KARACHI, Oct 12: The investigation officer in the murder case of the newly-wed couple submitted an interim charge-sheet to court on Friday.

Hafiz Mohammad Azeem Shaikh and his bride Beenish were found dead the next morning of their wedding night in mysterious circumstances in their North Nazimabad apartment in the limits of Taimuria police station on Aug 11.

Earlier, the former IO in the case, Mohammad Ashraf, had submitted three progress reports to the court of judicial magistrate-12, Central, Abdul Zahoor Chandio, on different dates. But following a court’s order, police high-ups had assigned the case to the senior investigation officer, Inspector Khalid Khan, of New Karachi Industrial Area police station.

On Sept 20, the deceased groom’s father, Abdul Majeed Shaikh, through his counsel Shaikh Javaid Mir, submitted an application to the court of district and sessions judge, Central, Abdul Maalik, under Section 22-A (6) (iii)/(iv) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In the application the provincial police officer, the additional inspector-general of police (investigations), the capital police officer and the state had been named as respondents.

The applicant had requested the transfer of the case’s investigation to any other zone, citing his lack of confidence in IO Ashraf of Taimuria police station. He alleged that the investigation officer was biased and was trying to hush up the investigation.

The investigation was assigned to IO Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ashraf under the supervision of TPO Naeem Shaikh of North Nazimabad, DSP Farooq of Taimuria police station, DSP Ejaz Hashmi of Azizabad police station and DSP Khalid of the Industrial Area police station. The investigation process was also monitored by DIG (investigations) Falak Khurshid.

In his statement Mr Shaikh alleged that the police repeatedly summoned him to different police stations and had subjected him to severe torture at Taimuria and Gulberg police stations.

He also claimed that during interrogations the police had blindfolded him and took him to undisclosed locations and warned him against naming Abdul Samad and Abdul Ghayoor as the accused in the case.

Advocate Mir argued that the police were bound under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code to submit investigation details within 17 days, but the charge-sheet had not been produced in court despite the passage of more than a month. This, he said, exposed the mala fide intentions of the IO, the DIG concerned and other police officials.The application was transferred to the court of additional district and sessions judge-4, Central, Gulshan Ara Chandio. The ADJ after hearing arguments from both police officials and the complainant had transferred the inquiry on Sept 26 to the SSP, investigation, Sindh.

The court had directed the SSP to ensure the submission of the case’s charge-sheet in court within seven days of the order. The relevant FIR No 391/07 had been registered at the Taimuria police station under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The court transferred the case’s investigation from IO Mohammed Ashraf of the Taimuria police station and the SSP was directed to assign the duties to a senior, competent and responsible police officer who would conduct prompt inquiries.

After hearing arguments from both the sides, the court had commented that it was a matter of record that the police had failed to submit challan even after 35 days of the FIR’s registration.

According to the court order, the IO had admitted that a blood-stained tissue paper, handed over to him by Azeem’s family, remained in his custody and was yet to be sent for a chemical examination.

Members of the groom’s family also appeared in court. Complaining against the police, they told reporters that they felt threatened and repeatedly accused Abdul Ghayoor and Abdul Samad of having committed the crime. The current IO, Khalid Khan, told Dawn that he had submitted his fourth progress report (interim charge-sheet) to court. He said that as a result of thorough investigation it had been proved that the father of the deceased groom, Abdul Majeed Shaikh, had been involved in the double murder case.

Referring to Mr Shaikh’s interviews with a TV channel, the IO said that Shaikh had himself admitted his presence up to 5am in the couple’s room. He said that the bride Beenish was also murdered between 4am and 5am by breaking her jaws, covering her nose and mouth.

He said that a complete charge-sheet would be submitted to court most probably after Eidul Fitr holidays, as the police were trying to arrest Abdul Majeed.

The former IO, Mohammad Ashraf, told Dawn that both Dr Umer and Dr Ghulam Ali in their reports had mentioned that besides poisoning the bride, Beenish, had also been subjected to torture. He said that Azeem’s sister Faiza was against the marriage.

Rejecting Mr Shaikh’s allegations about police violence against him, Mr Ashraf said that had there been any truth in his claims, he would have prepared a medical report by now.

He said that as for the tissue paper, it was handed over to the police on Sept 3 at the residence of another relative about half a kilometre away from the couple’s apartment.

Murder case disposed of