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KARACHI, May 5: The Sindh High Court on Friday dismissed an appeal of a man against death punishment for kidnapping and killing a boy for ransom.
Shafqat Hussain was sentenced to death punishment twice by an anti terrorism court in Karachi, having found him guilty of kidnapping and killing a seven-year-old boy, Umair Ali.
According to prosecution, th eaccused kidnapped the boy from New Town area on April 10, 2004, and demanded Rs.5,00,000 from his family but later killed him when he raised a hue and cry.
His appeal against conviction was heard by SHC's division bench, comprising Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery and Justice Nadeem Azhar Siddiqui.
The court, after hearing perusal of evidence and hearing arguments of the state and appellant counsel, for reason to be recorded later, dismissed the appeal, maintaining death sentence of the appellant. The court, however, commuted the death sentence in murder charge into five years in prison.
MARINA CLUB: The Sindh High Court on Friday restrained Pakistan Defence Housing Authority from taking action in respect of two plots of aggregate 17000 sq. yards meant for construction of Marina Club in DHA Phase VIII area Karachi.
The interim injunction came on lawsuits filed by Sheikh Abid Hussain and Akbar Mehmood for injunction against the defendants.
The plaintiffs submitted they acquired plots measuring 15000 and 2000 square yards for purpose of Marina Club but defendants were trying to repossess their plots.
They said notice was issued by the defendants on April 25, indicating that action was necessitated due to certain unavoidable changes in the layout of roadwork and for adjustment in existing planning.
The plaintiffs, however, contended that no master plan had been changed and the location of plan cannot be shifted or changed to the disadvantage of plaintiff without due course of law.
The court was prayed to direct the defendants to grant permission plan for purpose of Marina Club and grant “A” lease in respect of plots after demarcation of plots and possession of plots be handed over to plaintiffs.
SHC’s single bench, comprising Justice Mushir Alam, after preliminary hearing issued notice to defendants and in the meantime ordered that no action pursuant to notice of April 25 will be taken by defendant against plaintiff.
DETENTION MATTER: The Sindh High Court on Friday directed the secretary, ministry of defence, to file statement supported by his affidavit in the detention matter of JSQM leader Dr Safdar Sarki, who is alleged to have been arrested by law enforcement agencies.
Dr Safdar was arrested by law enforcement agencies on Feb 24 from his residence in Gulistan-i-Johar, alleged his employee Muneer Ahmed in his petition.
Petitioner's counsel Nooruddin Sarki alleged that the detainee was earlier arrested by police and handed to ISI who kept him at Liaquat Barracks in Karachi. Later, he said, he was shifted to unknown destination.
As matter was taken up before SHC's division bench, comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Gulzar Ahmed, standing counsel sought time to file comments on behalf of secretary of defence as he did not receive comments from concerned ministry yet.
The court, directing the federal law officer to file comment regarding detention of Dr. Safdar Sarki, adjourned hearing till May 9.
Meanwhile, in another detention matter of a pesh-imam of mosque by law enforcement agencies, the federal attorney also sought time to ascertain whereabouts of detainee from concerned law enforcement agencies.
Ms Naz Bibi alleged her spouse Mohammad Alim Tariq, a pesh-imam of mosque in Gulshan-i-Hadeed was arrested by the SHO of Shah Latif Town on Dec 17, 2005, without levelling any charges.
She said since then he was not produced before any court of law nor shown arrested in any case. Her counsel Omer Farooq submitted that the detainee was being interrogated by the Rangers and the ISI who have kept him at an undisclosed location.
Earlier, the SHO of Shah Latif Town and TPO of Bin Qasim denied the detention or arrest. The court, granting time, fixed next hearing for May 16.—PPI
