KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the city mayor and the management of the Askari Amusement Park to file comments on a petition against using the public facility for commercial purposes.

Impleading the Sindh chief secretary, Karachi commissioner, mayor, management of the park and others as respondents, the petitioner moved the SHC after the collapse of a carousel at the park last year leaving a teenage girl dead and many others injured.

When the matter came up for hearing before a two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro on Wednesday, the petitioner submitted that the replies on behalf of the Karachi mayor and the management of the park had not so far been submitted.

The counsel for both the respondents requested for time to file their respective replies.

The bench adjourned the matter till Dec 17 directing them to file their comments on the next date of hearing.

IO of Naqeebullah murder case ordered to appear in court on Nov 28

In a previous hearing, the deputy commissioner East filed comments on behalf of the commissioner stating that with the approval of competent authority (chief minister) the services and general administration department through a notification dated July 16, 2018 constituted a five-member technical committee to look into the incident in which a swing/ride at the park had collapsed.

The committee comprised DC East, SSP East, local government director, civil engineer of local councils concerned and mechanical engineer from a well-reputable university. The committee had already submitted a confidential report on July 21 last year to the chief secretary.

Similarly, the SHO of the PIB police station in his comments had stated that a swing collapsed on July 15, 2018 at the Askari Amusement Park in old Sabzi Mandi in which a girl, Kashaf, died and several others sustained injuries. A case was registered under Sections 319 (manslaughter), 337-H (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Petitioner Imran Shahzad stated that the rides at the park were not properly maintained and posed a threat to visitors.

He maintained that the management of the park had ended the green belt and was using the premises for commercial purposes without obtaining a no-objection certificate.

Plea for Rao Anwar’s bail cancellation

The same bench also directed the investigating officer of the Naqeebullah murder case to appear in court on Nov 28 in a petition filed by the father of the deceased seeking cancelation of bail granted to then SSP Rao Anwar by the trial court.

Mohammad Khan, father of Naqeeb, through his lawyer moved the SHC against the order of an antiterrorism court for granting bail to Rao Anwar.

The then SSP along with his subordinates has been facing trial before an ATC for allegedly killing Naseemullah, better known as Naqeebullah Mehsud, and three others in an alleged staged encounter in January 2018 in a Malir locality. The trial court had granted him bail in July last year.

The bench partly heard lawyers from both sides and directed the IO, SSP Dr Rizwan Ahmed, to appear in court on the next date.

The petitioner contended that Rao Anwar was very influential as it was evident from the fact that since his arrest he had been provided a VVIP and discriminatory treatment and was kept at his home instead of prison before the bail.

He further maintained that due to discriminatory and illegal favours being accorded to the suspect, he had been threatening the prosecution witnesses.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019