HYDERABAD, June 8: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad bench, on Wednesday issued notices to the director of the Anti-Corruption Establishment, Karachi, deputy director of the ACE, Hyderabad, EDO, revenue, superintendent of the Hyderabad Central Jail, naib nazim of the Jhirmirio Union Council, two ACE officials and SHOs of Baldia and Mithi police stations for June 14.

The notices were issued on a petition filed by former MPA Gyanchand who sought registration of an FIR against the ACE officials.

The petitioner alleged that the Tharparkar administration and the Arbab family were victimizing him and his family because he had contested for a seat against the chief minister in the 2002 general election.

He alleged that his brother, Jhirmiro Union Council Nazim Mohan Lal, and Union Council secretary Mohammad Bachal Dars had been falsely implicated in a corruption case lodged by the circle officer of the ACE, Mithi, accusing them of drawing salaries between Aug 14, 2001, and Sept 25, 2004, from the government treasury by misusing their authority.

The petitioner said his brother had claimed salaries from Sept 25, 2003, to March 31, 2005, the record of which was available in cash books. He added that his brother had nothing to do with the alleged sale of debris of an old building, constructed by the education and works department.

He said the ACE had called for submitting the union council record on April 28 but the record could not be produced since it was lying with the audit department. However, he said, without checking any record or inquiry, the case was lodged with the permission of the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee-II on May 7.

He said his brother and the union council secretary were arrested on May 11 by ACE circle office Khalid Nizamani and were remanded in judicial custody. He said they were granted bail by the special judge of anti-corruption (provincial) on May 27. However, he added, when he went to the jail to receive them, the jail staff and police did not release them. He alleged that ACE official Khalid Nizamani, ASI Ahmad Qaboolio and the jail staff dragged Mr Lal and Mr Dars away from the jail gate and aimed rifles at them, depriving him of Rs5,700 and his cousin of Rs2,500. He said Mr Lal and Mr Dars were taken away in a car.

He alleged that Mr Lal and Mr Dars were later booked in a false case and when they went to meet them, the ACE officials said they were acting under directives of the chief minister and the prime minister and would kill the accused in a false encounter. He further alleged that the officials also threatened him with arrest under the Sindh Crime Control Act.

The petitioner prayed the court to direct the respondents to produce his brother in the court along with the list of cases/inquiries against him.

He further pleaded that an honest officer should investigate the case against his brother.