KARACHI, Nov 8: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday transferred the murder case of journalist Wali Khan Babar from Karachi to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Kashmore-Kandhkot district.

At the request of the Sindh government to transfer the trial from the metropolis in view of threats to the lives of case investigators, witnesses and prosecution lawyers, SHC Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar ordered the transfer of the case to the Kashmore-Kandhkot district ATC.

The provincial government in an application filed in the SHC had stated that four policemen and Advocate Naimat Ali Randhawa linked to the investigation of the murder case of the journalist associated with a private television channel had been targeted. It submitted that there were threats to the lives of the investigators, witnesses and prosecution lawyers. Hence, the government requested the SHC chief justice to transfer the case to Shikarpur district.

Wali Babar was going home from office when he was shot dead in Liaquatabad on Jan 13, 2011.

Probe ordered

The SHC on Friday ordered the DIG police crime branch to conduct an inquiry into the allegations levelled against two policemen of the crime branch for detaining two men for ransom.

A single bench comprising the SHC chief justice gave the direction while hearing a petition filed by two businessmen, Naseer Ahmed and Zafar Hassan Khan, who pleaded to the court to order action against the policemen for allegedly kidnapping and harassing them.

The petitioners said they were involved in the business relating to auctioning different articles in Saddar. They alleged that Inspector Den Muhammad Mazari belonging to the crime branch arrested their three employees — Riaz, Afzal and Rehmat — and demanded a ransom for their release. They submitted that their employees were released upon payment of Rs70,000 in ransom.

While observing that allegations set forth in the petition was of serious nature, the court directed the DIG police crime branch to conduct an incisive inquiry into the allegations and submit detailed and comprehensive report within 15 days.—PPI