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KARACHI, Feb 23: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday granted protective bail to Dr Afzal Ali Shah Rizvi for 10 days in Dr Shazia Khalid criminal assault case.
The applicant, a medical officer at the PPL Sui Gas Field Hospital since 1991, sought protective bail in FIR No 1/05 of Sui Police Station Dera Bugti, for offence under Section 10/18 ZHO, read with Section 201, 202,186,109/34 PPC.
His counsel Khawaja Naveed Ahmed contended that the applicant was being implicated in the case due to enmity. He told the court that earlier the police had confined the applicant for 22 days and later released for giving statement in the tribunal. He submitted that the police are making efforts to cause the arrest of the applicant in complicity with the complainant party.
He said the applicant apprehends arrest and in case he is arrested, he will be maltreated and his life will be at stake. He contended that Dr Shazia did not mention any words against him in her statement, nor his name was mentioned in the FIR.
SHC's single bench, comprising Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro, without touching merits of the case, granted protective bail with surety of Rs100,000 for 10 days.
Dr Shazia Khalid, posted at Sui Field Hospital of Pakistan Petroleum Limited, was allegedly criminally assaulted on the night of Jan 2 and 3 in Sui. The Balochistan government established a judicial tribunal to investigate the assault on lady doctor.
PLEA FOR RE-HEARING: A division bench of High Court of Sindh, comprising Justice Ata-ur-Rahman and Justice Zia Pervez, on Wednesday put off hearing of an application for re-hearing.
As the bench took up the matter on Wednesday, M.Ilyas Khan, counsel for petitioners Dr Fauzia Akmal and Dr Farzana Naz, argued his application and submitted that petitioners be informed of material produced by the prosecution so that they can plead their defence.
The denial of right to the defence is against principles of natural justice, submitted counsel for the petitioners. The bench said that the constitution and law prevent the court from divulging any piece of evidence which is brought to court's knowledge in chambers.
The court asked the counsel to satisfy the court on prayer made in the application at which the counsel sought time. The bench, allowing the request, put off further hearing till March 1. -APP/PPI
