HYDERABAD, Dec 28: Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari of the Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench, on Thursday issued notice to Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) judge, Syed Ali Ashraf Shah, to show cause as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for remanding applicants to custody in disregard to the order passed by this court.

The court order said that the order should be communicated to the concerned judge by fax which seeks an explanation from him on December 29 (today).

Justice Leghari passed the order on a criminal revision applications, filed by seven applicants/accused after they were remanded to judicial custody by ATC judge on December 27 although their protective bail, granted by high court Hyderabad circuit bench, was effective till December 30.

They were granted protective pre-arrest bail on December 20 in the land controversy case involving Cadet College Petaro and residents of villages Safar Khaskheli in which the district Nazim of Jamshoro, Malik Asad Sikandar, was also challaned and granted pre-arrest bail by the same court.

The applicants’ counsel said that the order of the ATC judge order, remanding accused to the judicial custody on December 27 was illegal and in contravention of the high court order. He said that trial court rejected pre-arrest bail application of applicants but it could not take his clients into custody because their bail was effective till December 30.