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KARACHI, Feb 2: The Karsaz inquiry tribunal rejected on Saturday an application filed by the Pakistan People’s Party and summoned provincial PPP chief Syed Qaim Ali Shah for recording his statement on Feb 11.
Mr Shah moved an application through his counsel Farooq H. Naek requesting the tribunal chief, retired Justice Dr Ghous Mohammad, to supply certified copies of a notification issued by the Sindh government constituting the tribunal and a dismissal order dated Jan 26 passed on a PPP application seeking halt to the proceedings.
The tribunal chief read out the content of the application and later inquired about Mr Naek’s presence. “This application is supported by a wakalatnama, which shows that this request was made by the PPP through its Sindh president Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Where is Mr Naek?” the tribunal said, to which registrar Zahoor Ahmed Hakro told it that he was not present.
“Today the counsel was called absent, and there is no intimation whether Qaim Ali Shah is present to pursue his application. Therefore, this application is rejected for non-prosecution,” Dr Ghous declared.
He also ordered the registrar to summon Mr Shah on Feb 11 so that the tribunal could record his testimony.
“The record reveals that on Oct 17 the home secretary sent a letter to Syed Qaim Ali Shah about the observance of a code of conduct on the arrival of Benazir Bhutto on Oct 18. Eleven items are mentioned in the letter which all the parties concerned were supposed to observe for maintaining peace and security. Therefore, recording of a statement of Mr Shah is relevant and essential,” he said.
NBW for float driver
The tribunal repeated a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of float driver Abdul Ghani Baloch.
Bahadurabad police SHO Inspector Syed Zulqarnain Akhtar appeared before the tribunal and submitted his report through special prosecutor Arshad Lodhi that he visited Mr Baloch’s house in Lyari and also went to the Bilawal House but could not find the witness to serve the NBW on him.
“Let another attempt be made by a police officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police who should bring the witness in custody and should also present the compliance report on Feb 9,” the tribunal told its liaison officer, SSP Niaz Khoso.
The tribunal adjourned its proceeding for Feb 4 for examining PPP leaders Agha Siraj Durrani and Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.
