KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Friday questioned the maintainability of a petition filed by interned social worker Sarim Burney seeking commencement of his trial in a child trafficking case.

Citing the ministry of interior, Federal Investigation Agency, judicial magistrate concerned and others as respondents, the petitioner sought a directive for the trial court to start his trial on the basis of an interim investigation report filed before the relevant court.

In June, the FIA had arrested the social worker and booked him and others on the complaint of US authorities for allegedly getting illegal adoption/guardianship of three baby girls from a family court in Karachi by allegedly using and providing fraudulent documents and intending to hand them over to families living in the United States.

A two-judge SHC bench comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto and Justice Irshad Ali Shah took up the matter for hearing and noted that apparently the case was still under investigation and the trial court had taken cognizance.

It also observed that after submitting an interim investigation report before the relevant court, the FIA may conduct further investigation into the case.

While adjourning the hearing for a date to be fixed after three weeks, the bench in its order stated, “Counsel for the petitioner shall satisfy the court as to how such directions can be issued to the concerned magistrate, it will amount interference in the proceedings.”

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024