KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed police to recover the body of a man killed in the name of so-called ‘honour’ and provide protection to a woman.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha also asked the DIG and SSP of Larkana to arrest three absconding accused before the next hearing.

It also ordered police officers to continue the investigation strictly in accordance with law and complete the same before June 6.

When the bench took up the matter about the murder of Ali Ahmed, who was killed in January after being abducted in a Larkana locality, DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh and SSP Dr Imran turned up in the light of last order and submitted a report.

They submitted that an FIR had been registered under the charges of murder and abduction and the nominated accused Saifullah Brohi, Abdul Rasool Brohi, and Haji Mohammad Ramzan had been apprehended while Khair Mohammad got bail from the trial court concerned.

SHC orders DIG-Larkana to provide protection to woman, file investigation report

However, the lawyer for the petitioner informed the bench that Khair Mohammad had now gone missing while two other nominated accused Abdul Aziz and Khan Mohammad Brohi were also absconding.

The court directed both the police officers to ensure that all three absconders were traced out and arrested before next hearing. The DIG sought time to recover the body of the victim as its location had been disclosed by the detained accused persons.

The bench asked the police to recover the body before June 6 and should continue the investigation strictly in accordance with law.

“The IO shall also record 161 CrPC of Ms Safia who appears to be a potential star witness in this case. However, DIG Larkana and SSP Larkana shall ensure her protection and shall place her in Darul Aman, if any security reasons arise as this is potentially a case of Karo Kari,” it added.

The bench further said that SSP-headquarters Asif Raza was said to be heading a joint investigation team probing the case and he must appear along with a detailed progress report at next hearing and directed him that no stone was left unturned in order to uncover the truth through cogent evidence.

The lawyer for some accused filed objections and the copy of same were provided to the police in order to carrying out a fair investigation.

Noor Bibi petitioned the SHC and submitted that police lodged a case about abduction and murder of her son on the order of the district and sessions court concerned and a jirga had asked the petitioner to settle the issue against Rs500,000.

However, the petitioner said that she and her family did not accept the decision of the jirga and pleaded for justice and fair investigation of the case.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2023