KARACHI, Sept 21: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued a bailable warrant for the arrest of an accused in the 1996 double murder case of former SHC judge Nizam Ahmed and his son.

The bench, which consisted of Justices Wahid Bux Brohi and Rehmat Husain Jafri, was hearing a reference made by the trial court of district and sessions judge (central) for cancellation of the bail given to accused Javed Akhtar Pirzada.

The accused was denied bail by the trial court but granted the concession by the high court. Asif Ali Zardari, Babar Sindhu and Bilal Shaikh are the other accused in the case. The sessions court said in its reference that the trial proceedings were held up due to Pirzada's absence.

Assistant Advocate-General Habib Ahmed submitted that the accused had jumped the bail and his whereabouts were not known. SHO Aurangzeb of Ferozabad police station, who had been summoned by the bench, stated that the accused was not traceable.

Earlier, he tendered his unconditional apology for his inability to appear in the morning. He said he had gone to a lower court because of misunderstanding. The bench warned the SHO to be careful in the future and asked him to make efforts for tracing out the accused. A bailable warrant in the sum of Rs300,000 was issued for the arrest of the accused.

The bench, meanwhile, rejected an application by an appellant for withdrawal of his appeal as the authorities had agreed to release him on parole. Appellant Pir Mohammad Shafique was convicted by a drug court and sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment. He said he had partly served his jail term and while his release on parole would leave the conviction intact, it would earn him early reprieve.

AAG Habib Ahmed submitted that the appellant wanted to withdraw his appeal in view of his release. Release on parole implied admission of guilt and the appeal would become infructuous. It was mainly in cases of confirmation of death sentences that the withdrawal plea was not allowed. The appeal could be disposed of as not pressed, he said.

The bench observed that the appeal was admitted to regular hearing and could not be disposed of as withdrawn. The proceedings might result in the setting aside of conviction and acquittal of the appellant. It fixed Sept 30 for final hearing and decision of the case.

HEARING ADJOURNED: A division bench of Sindh High Court, comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad and Justice Zawar Hussain Jaffery, on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of a petition against detention of a man by the law-enforcement agencies, adds PPI.