KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Friday expressed its extreme displeasure at SSP Akhtar Farooq, who is currently posted as personal security officer of the Punjab chief minister, for not turning up to testify in the murder case of renowned social activist Perween Rahman.

Five detained accused — Abdul Raheem Swati, his son Mohammad Imran Swati along three co-accused Ayaz Shamzai alias Swati, Amjad Hussain Khan and Ahmed Khan alias Ahmed Ali alias Pappu Kashmiri — have been charged with her murder.

Orangi Pilot Project head Perween Rahman, who devoted her life to the development of impoverished neighbourhoods, was gunned down near her office in Orangi Town on March 13, 2013.

On Monday, the ATC-XIII judge had taken notice of absence of Mr Farooq, directing the DIG Investigation to ensure his presence to record his statement since he was an important prosecution witness.

When the matter was taken up on Friday, the senior policeman was found absent again.

A report was also submitted on behalf of the DIG Investigation, who maintained that SSP Farooq had been posted in Punjab and assured that he would appear before the court on the next date.

The judge, who is conducting the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, expressing displeasure over the police officer’s continuous absence, again told the DIG to ensure his presence on the next date and fixed hearing for Nov 27.

Then SSP West Farooq has been named as witness in the case since he was the first investigating officer who had grilled the main accused Abdul Raheem, alias Swati and also recorded his ‘confessional’ statement under Section 21H (conditional admissibility of confession) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

It may be recalled that the Sindh High Court had recently directed the trial court to conclude the trial expeditiously within two months.

Policeman’s bail plea rejected

The same court meanwhile rejected two applications moved by a police official seeking his release on bail.

Eight ACLC officials, including the then SHO Tariq Mehmood, then inspectors Azhar Ahsan and Tariq Raheem, head constable Shahid and constables Ghulam Abbas, Fawad Khan, Mohammad Daniyal and Bilal Rasheed have been charged with killing 19-year-old student Intizar Ahmed on the night of Jan 13 in Defence Housing Authority.

Defence counsel contended that applicant Asghar Ahsan was behind bars since his arrest because his name was merely mentioned in the FIR, adding that his continuous detention would not serve any purpose since he was not required for investigation anymore.

Vehemently opposing the bail plea, the prosecutor questioned why, being a senior police officer, the applicant did not stop his subordinates from firing on the victim, who lost his life.

According to the joint investigation team, all accused were responsible for the illegal and unlawful act done by them, but they did not challenge these findings at any forum, the prosecutor argued, asking the court to dismiss the bail plea.

The judge also dismissed an application moved by another detained police official Tariq Raheem seeking provision of better class facilities in prison, observing that he was facing trial in a heinous offence under the provision of Section 6/7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, as a boy of 19 years age had lost his life due to illegal and unlawful act of the applicant and the police charge sheeted him under these sections.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2018