December 07, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 8, 1429

KARACHI, Dec 6: A judicial magistrate remanded on Saturday the chairman of the Kalia Group in judicial custody till Dec 12 in a money laundering case.

On Nov 28, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Hanif Kalia in Clifton for his alleged involvement in a forex scam.

His younger brother, Munaf Kalia, and Javed Khanani are already in FIA custody on the same charges.

On Saturday, the FIA produced accused Hanif Kalia before the JM South, Asif Ahmed, and sought extension in his police remand. However, the court rejected the plea and remanded the accused in judicial custody till Dec 12.

The court also allowed an application moved by the accused and directed the jail superintendent to provide him necessary medical treatment in the prison.

The accused were booked in a case (76/08) under Sections 5/8, 22/23 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 read with Sections 7, 8 & 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance, 2007 and Sections 420, 467, 471, 477-A of the Pakistan Penal Code at the FIA crimes circle, Karachi.

Meanwhile, the district and sessions judge (south), Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui, on Saturday adjourned the hearing of bail applications of Munaf Kalia and Javed Khanani till Dec 18 after the FIA’s counsel sought time to study the case.

The court also issued a notice to the state for Dec 12 on an application moved by the two suspects for getting a better class in the jail.

Boiler blast case

An additional district and sessions judge issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of two prosecution witnesses in a case pertaining to a boiler explosion in a towel-dyeing factory.

The court had summoned policemen Shahid Majeed and Waqar Ahmed many times to record their testimony but they did not turn up.

On Saturday, Judge Muhammad Yameen directed the police authorities to arrest the two witnesses and produce them in court on Jan 7.

The blast occurred at a towel-dyeing and bleaching factory in New Karachi on July 24, 2007 and left nine people dead and 25 others injured.

The factory owner, Akhtar Hussain Baloch, and boiler operator Mohammad Ahsanullah were arrested shortly after the incident. Later, they got bail from the high court.

A case (FIR No.359/07) was registered against the accused under Section 322/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Taimuria police station.

Gulgee murder case

Another District and Sessions Judge, Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui, adjourned the hearing of a triple murder case of renowned artist Ismail Gulgee, his wife, Zareen Gulgee, and their maidservant, Aasia, till Jan 9 due to the absence of the defence counsel.

They were strangled to death in their house situated in Boat Basin police limits on December 19, 2007.

Gulgee’s driver, Akram Ali, and servant, Anwar, are facing trial in the triple murder case.