KARACHI, Nov 13: The Sindh government withdrew 244 cases against various people over the past one year. This was stated by Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim during question hour in the Sindh Assembly on Monday in reply to a question asked by MMA’s Hameedullah Khan. His written reply was read out and the supplementary questions were answered by Minister In-charge Mohammad Hussain.

Listed district-wise, the document containing names of the people whose cases had been withdrawn from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2005 by the government was placed on the table of the house.

Responding to supplementary questions on behalf of the chief minister, Mohammed Hussain told the house that all these cases had been withdrawn after fulfilling judicial procedures.

A proposal for withdrawal of a case is sent to the concerned judicial magistrate under section 494 Cr.PC after which the magistrate takes a decision as per his discretion.

The minister said the cases withdrawn were those where there were no private complainants.

The house was told that withdrawal of cases had remained practice of every government, including that of the PPP.

Replying to another supplementary question, he said that withdrawal of a case could be challenged in a court.

Answering another question by the same member, the chief minister said that as on April 1, 2006, a total of 2,087 vehicles were available with the Karachi police and the expenditure incurred on account of POL charges was Rs119.993 million during the period July 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006. He gave month-wise details in this regard.

In reply to supplementary questions, Mr Hussain said that the amount was within the budgetary limits.

He said that after the new budget, there had been an increase in the number of vehicles and motorcycles provided to police and the POL expenses increased accordingly.—APP