KARACHI: A local court on Saturday remanded in police custody a suspect detained for allegedly sexually abusing a teenage boy and filming the abuse in Karachi.

Police claimed to have arrested the man over his alleged involvement in the sexual abuse of the 15-year-old boy and filming the alleged crime within the jurisdiction of the Defence police station.

On Saturday, the investigating officer produced the suspect before the judicial magistrate (South) to seek his physical remand in police custody for interrogation and investigation.

The IO informed the court that the suspect had allegedly subjected the boy to sexual assault and also filmed it to blackmail him.

Therefore, he said, a 14-day physical remand of the suspect in police custody was required for further interrogation and completing the investigation and other legal formalities.

However, the judge remanded the suspect in police custody for two days, directing the IO to produce him on next date.

The IO was further told to submit an investigation report on the next date.

Corruption in Sindh Festival

An accountability court on Saturday directed the IO to submit a report regarding progress into the alleged corruption in holding of the Sindh Festival.

The National Accountability Bureau arrested Ishrat Aftab Soomro on June 9 over his alleged involvement in Rs8.48 million graft related to the cultural festival.

On Saturday, the IO produced the suspect before the administrative judge of the accountability courts, Abdul Ghani Soomro, upon expiry of his physical remand in judicial custody.

The judge extended his physical remand in jail custody till July 5.

The IO requested for more time to submit a report regarding progress in the case.

Allowing the request, the judge directed the IO to submit progress report by the next date.

According to the federal anti-graft watchdog, an inquiry was initiated against the officers/officials of the Sindh culture department, Sindh advertising agencies and others regarding alleged receipt of Rs8.448m.

Impersonator’s remand extended

The same court also extended till July 5 physical remanded of a suspect detained for allegedly cheating the public of Rs18m by impersonation.

NAB officials arrested and booked Amir Hussain for allegedly defrauding citizens by pretending to be a son of a fake director general of a federal anti-graft watchdog.

On Saturday, the IO produced the suspect before the administrative judge upon expiry of his physical remand in judicial custody and requested for time to submit a progress report.

The judge allowed the IO to submit progress report till July 5.

According to the prosecution, Amir Hussain posed as a son of a person, Khalid, who pretended to be a director general of NAB.

Both the suspects had defamed the institution by cheating the public in the name of the bureau.

Nationalist leader surrenders

An antiterrorism court on Saturday directed police to arrest a nationalist leader after he surrendered in a case pertaining to violence and ransacking at Bahria Town Karachi (BTK) during a protest against the mega housing project.

Syed Zain-ul-Abideen, senior leader of the Sindh United Party, was booked in a case registered at the Gadap City police station.

On Saturday, he surrendered himself to the administrative judge of the ATCs after obtaining protective bail from the Sindh High Court.

However, Mr Abideen did not apply for an interim pre-arrest bail and requested the court to send him to jail in what he described as ‘protest’ against the police action against nationalist leaders, with regard to their protest against BTK.

The judge sent him to jail, directing the IO to produce him on the next date along with an investigation report.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2021