KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, moved on Wednesday an antiterrorism court to seek timely disposal of a case against former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain and others, citing pressure on the private witnesses and a Sindh High Court order that the case be finalised within two months.

The law officer of the paramilitary force, Sajid Mehboob Shaikh, submitted an application before ATC-II and argued that the SHC had directed the trial court in November to conclude the trial within two months.

The counsel maintained that three Rangers officials, including the complainant of the case and two private persons, including Dr Yusuf Sattar, an employee of Ziauddin Hospital, were the prosecution witnesses.

He contended that around one-and-a-half years had passed after the registration of the FIR, adding that paramilitary officials were likely to be transferred according to department rules.

The Rangers’ lawyer further contended that the accused persons, who have already been released on bail, were highly influential and they were pressurising the private witnesses.

Dr Asim, a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Karachi president, with some other politicians has been booked for allegedly treating and harbouring suspected terrorists, political militants and gangsters at his hospital.

Pak Sarzameen Party president Anis Kaimkhani, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, MQM-P lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, PPP’s Abdul Qadir Patel, former MQM leader Saleem Shahzad and Usman Moazzam of Pasban have also been named as co-accused in the case for allegedly asking Dr Asim for treatment of alleged militants.

A case was registered against Dr Asim and other politicians in 2015 on a complaint of Rangers at the North Nazimabad police station.

Four suspects remanded in Jufelhurst School case

A judicial magistrate remanded on Wednesday an inspector of the Federal Investigation Agency and three other suspects in the custody of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police in cases regarding demolition of a heritage building in Soldier Bazaar.

The CTD had arrested FIA Inspector Adnan Ali, Abid Shabbir, Amin and Mohammad Yusuf on Tuesday after a sessions court dismissed their pre-arrest bail applications.

The investigating officer produced the suspects before a judicial magistrate (East) and sought their custody for questioning. The court allowed their three-day physical remand.

The suspended SHO of Soldier Bazaar Irshad Soomro, ASI Hakim Ali, mukhtiarkar Ahmed Memon and surveyor Ghulam Fareed Chauhan have already been sent to prison.

The suspects have been booked for their alleged role in the demolition of a British-era building, located inside the Jufelhurst School in Soldier Bazaar, on the night of April 8.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2017