KARACHI, May 26: Additional District and Sessions Judge, South, Mohammad Azeem on a fresh (second) petition filed by General Secretary of the Karachi Bar Association Naeem Qureshi directed SHO of the City Courts police station to appear before the court on Monday (May28).

The petitioner, who was represented by Mohammad Hanif Kashmir and Mohammad Mashoud, stated that the SHO, Zahid Hussain, had declined to investigate the case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders and the Sindh government on a report lodged in the log (roznamcha) of the police station.

An FIR was lodged under the orders of the court on May 19 under sections 147, 148, 149, 324, 427, 365/511 and 506-B of the PPC. The SHO has written in the FIR: “I, Inspector Zahid Hussain as SHO Police Station City Courts, by using my powers under section 157B Cr.PC don’t feel the investigation of the case necessary and there is no need for further investigation.”

It was mentioned in the FIR that on May 12, KBA members were on their way to the Sindh High Court to attend the Supreme Court’s golden jubilee celebrations which were to be attended by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. As the lawyers came out of the City Courts in a big procession, some unidentified persons opened indiscriminate fire from all sides forcing the lawyers to disperse into two groups and rush to safety.

In the meanwhile, FIR stated, MQM workers appeared in vehicles with party flags and started shooting at the lawyers and pelted them with stones, causing injuries to lawyers, including women, who were not allowed to take shelter in the nearby buildings.

It was further stated that the lawyers were threatened with immolation and the furniture placed in the women lawyers’ common room was already set ablaze. Several members of the Sindh Bar Council were held hostage at gunpoint.

It was stated that the lawyers repeatedly contacted the Sindh governor and police high-ups till 5pm but no action was taken against the terrorists.

In their fresh application, the lawyers submitted to the court that the respondent SHO had entrusted further investigation of the case to the SIO Investigation Cell of City Courts police station.

It was stated that since the SHO and his superiors were named as accused in the FIR, therefore, the investigation cell headed by DIG Investigation, Zone-1, Karachi, could appear biased.

The petitioner, referring to Section 18 of the Police Order 2002, said that the SHO had no authority to make observations under Section 157B Cr.PC, and prayed that investigation of the case be transferred to any other investigation zone.