KARACHI, July 22: The district and sessions judge, Malir, Mohammad Sadiq Bhatti, directed on Friday the SHO of Sohrab Goth to produce the station diary of the New Sabzimandi police post where the former nazim of Orangi, Mohammad Shahid Alam alias Guddu Bihari, was allegedly illegally lodged. The judge was hearing an application submitted by Dr Shakir Alam for the recovery of his brother, Guddu Bihari.

The judge had deputed a judicial magistrate on Wednesday for recovery of the former nazim from the police kiosk on an application of Dr Shakir Alam. The magistrate did recover the former nazim from the police post. However, the police declined to release him.

The judge called for a report from the SHO of Sohrab Goth and he also issued show-cause notice to the SHO after the judicial magistrate submitted his report. The SHO appeared in the court and placed on record his report and submitted a reply to the show-cause notice.

Judicial Magistrate Mohammed Ehsan Khan Durrani sought strict action against the SHO and other police officials at the check post and submitted that the SHO was not ready to consider legal requirements and procedures.

In his report, the magistrate submitted that he checked the police record, but no entry regarding the detention of Guddu Bihari was available on the station diary at the check post.

He also submitted that both the SHO and the check post in charge said the detainee was not involved in any crime.

The magistrate stated that he accordingly set Guddu Bihari free and made an entry in the station diary. However, he said, SHO Jamil Bangash again arrested Guddu Bihari on the main gate of the kiosk.

“On inquiry, the SHO stated that Shahid Alam was required in connection with an FIR, but he did not mention the FIR number, nor the offence. On the contrary, the SHO totally ignored all norms of legal procedure”, he said.

The JM stated that in spite of his directives, the SHO declined to release the detainee. “Besides, he refused to give a copy of the station diary”.

He said: “He also snatched the key of the car from the applicant, Dr Shakir Alam.”

In his report, the SHO said that sub-inspector Ghulam Murtaza of Ferozabad had handed over Guddu Bihari to Sohrab Goth police for a safe custody.

He said that the accused was duly arrested in FIR (577/2003) by SI Sarfaraz Ali Aliyana.

In his reply to the show-cause notice, the SHO stated that the judicial magistrate did not demand a copy of the station diary.

“It is also far from actuality that the local police did not give copy of the station diary as alleged by Mr Mohammad Ahsan Khan Durrani”, he stated.

Defence counsel Shahadat Awan submitted before the court that the report submitted by the magistrate adversely reflects the condemnable conduct of the police and the police intentionally obstructed the judicial magistrate to discharge his functions.

He prayed the court to award exemplary punishment to delinquent police officials as it was necessary for maintaining supremacy of law and respect of judiciary.