March 25, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

LAHORE, March 24: Lahore High Court Judge Justice Ahsan Bhoon on Monday granted bail to an accused and ordered medical examination of two others while entertaining a habeas corpus petition.

Petitioner Maqboolan Bibi submitted CIA North Cantt police station in charge Rafiq Sindhu and other officers raided her house on March 3 and took away her son, Abdul Rauf, brother Nasrullah and two nephews, Haroon and Billo.

Justice Bhoon had required the presence of the DIG (Operations) after police said they did not know the whereabouts of the persons allegedly arrested by them.

Appearing before the court on Monday, DIG Tariq Khokhar said a case was registered against Nasrullah and Haroon and they were on judicial remand, while Billo was also sent to jail in a case of keeping illegal weapons.

Later, on court order the police produced all the three men, who said they were arrested on March 3 and tortured. They claimed they were not produced before any court after their arrests.

The judge, granting bail to Billo upon furnishing bonds of Rs20,000, directed the police to get medical examination of Nasrullah and Haroon and disposed of the petition.

The petitioner had said the police took the action in connivance with one Babar Sohail Butt after registering four fake cases against the detainees. She said Butt wanted to occupy their land and had been pressurising them to hand it over without any resistance.

Justice Bhoon required the presence of the DPO after the respondent police officers, while appearing before the court, denied raiding the residence of the petitioner and taking into custody anybody.

CIA North Cantt in charge Rafique said Nasrullah was wanted in eight cases, Haroon in three while Billo was not required in any case. The police officer also produced the record of the cases and a proclamation order by a judicial magistrate against Nasrullah and Haroon.

The petitioner’s counsel said the police officers did not produce the detenues before the court deliberately because they were badly tortured. The judge also directed additional advocate general to ensure the compliance of the court order.