KARACHI, April 23: The Supreme Court has upheld the Sindh High Court’s order transferring the case against Sardar Akhtar Mengal, a former chief minister of Balochistan, from one anti-terrorism court of Karachi to another.

Sardar Mengal is being proceeded against for kidnapping and torture of two army men on surveillance duty. Three of his employees, who were directly involved in the offence, have already been convicted by Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch.

According to his counsel, Azizullah K. Shaikh and Mr Baloch made certain observation about the involvement of Sardar Mengal, who was arrested in the case after being declared an absconder, in his judgment convicting and sentencing his employees. He had pre-judged the case against Sardar Mengal and could not be expected to hold his trial fairly and impartially.

SHC Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed transferred Sardar Mengal’s case to the anti-terrorism court of Judge Saghir Hussain Zaidi.

Petitions for leave to challenge the transfer order were moved by the provincial government and Havildar Qurban Hussain, the complainant and victim of the alleged kidnapping, in the Supreme Court.

A three-member bench comprising Justices Raza Mohammad Khan, M. Javed Buttar and Hamil Ali Mirza turned down the petitions at the principal seat and declined leave to appeal. Sindh Additional Advocate-General M. Rafiq Rajori appeared for the petitioners and Advocate Shaikh for the respondent accused.