HYDERABAD, July 29: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Thursday summoned the chairman, Anti-Corruption Committee-I, SIs Aijaz Ahmad Kaimkhani, Qudratullah and Javed Ahmad and two other policemen on a petition for Aug 11.

The petitioner, Shafi Mohammad Abro, had challenged an order passed on April 29 by the ACC-I. He stated that the then SHO, Site police station, Aijaz Ahmad, in connivance with subordinates (respondents) had registered false cases under the Arms Ordinance against his relatives.

He said he had sent an application to the SSP, Hyderabad, requesting him to transfer investigation of the FIRs as the officials were biased. He added that the SHO had received Rs10,000 for release of his relative, Sultan.

The petitioner said the SSP transferred the investigation of the cases to the ASP, cantonment, who recommended that cases against Barkat Ali and Sadiq Jagirani should be disposed of.

He said the SHO on the one hand moved an application to the judicial magistrate-I, Hyderabad, for cancellation of crimes 29 and 31 of 2000 of the police station while on the other, he challaned the cases. However, he said the accused were exonerated by the court.

He said on his request anti-corruption authorities recommended registration of cases against the SHO and the two other SIs. But, he regretted, the respondent police officials approached the anti- corruption authorities with the result that the recommendation of cases was withdrawn through an order dated March 28, 2002.

Mr Abro said he then moved an appeal to the Sindh chief secretary and the Anti-Corruption Establishment chairman who forwarded the appeal to the deputy director, ACE, Hyderabad.

He said inspector Abdul Latif reinvestigated the matter who concluded that a prima facie case had been established against the SHO and the two SIs. He said the statement of respondent head constable Samiullah was also recorded which indicated criminal role of the SHO and his subordinates. The petitioner prayed the court to suspend the order passed by ACC-I.