KARACHI: A local court on Monday granted post-arrest bail to a detained traffic police official booked in a case of extorting money from a rickshaw driver, who died after committing self-immolation in protest.

Police claimed to have detained Head Constable Mohammad Hanif and booked him in a case registered under Section 161 (Public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect to an official act) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Saddar police station.

On Monday, the investigating officer produced the detained constable before the judicial magistrate (East) to seek his physical remand in police custody for interrogation.

The IO stated that Khalid, who used to drive a tri-wheeler, had burnt himself allegedly due to demands for extortion by the suspect, adding that the victim had received more than 50 per cent burns and later succumbed to his wounds in hospital on Monday.

Therefore, the IO pleaded for his physical remand in police custody for interrogation and completion of other legal formalities.

But the magistrate inquired from the IO that how physical remand of the suspect could be granted since he had been booked for a bailable offence. The magistrate further inquired whether the IO had checked his past criminal record.

The IO said he had been assigned investigation into the case in the morning and needed the case file, but once again requested for physical remand of the suspect.

After briefly adjourning the matter, the judge turned down the IO’s request for remand and granted post-arrest bail to Mohammad Hanif against a surety bond of Rs100,000 with the direction to appear on the next date.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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