HYDERABAD, March 29: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Tuesday directed the sessions judge of Nawabshah to hold an inquiry into a land occupation case involving former Sindh education minister Khan Mohammad Dahri and a common petitioner.

The SHC passed the order on a constitutional petition filed by Sheral Rind, seeking registration of an FIR against Mr Dahri.

The court ordered that the investigation officer, not below the rank of DSP, should belong to a district other than Nawabshah because of because the entire Nawabshah police were under influence of Mr Dahri.

The court said that under section 202 CrPC it was competent to hold inquiry by itself or in case of the sessions’ judge through magistrate or any other person or through justice of peace may direct police to investigate and submit report during preliminary inquiry.

The bench directed the sessions judge that he might in addition to holding inquiry by himself get the case investigated through an officer for which he would give directive to the RPO to appoint any DSP of the district other than Nawabshah for an impartial investigation.

The petitioner said that old Kheri Rind village existed on the survey No-53 for the past many years.

Around 100 families including the petitioner settled on the reserved land of Nawab Wasi Ali and government land and they installed tube wells, excavated watercourses and cultivated land for many years.

They were paying land revenue and other government taxes.

“Khan Mohammad Dahiri, a big landlord, is very influential person and has remained former Sindh education minister. He is political enemy of the PPP and the Rinds are the supporter of the PPP hence Rais Khan Mohammad Dahri is on inimical terms with them”, the petitioner said.

He said on Oct 18, 2004 Mr Dahri and others attacked Kheri Rind village and allegedly killed Mohammad Bachal.

The petitioner and others protested, demanding the registration of an FIR against the culprits but the police did not register case.

The SHO registered it on his own and supported the culprits for which relatives of Bachal filed a constitutional petition.

Mr Dahri was annoyed and used his influence.

After consulting the DPO, conservator of forest, EDO revenue and district forest officer, SHO Aliabad, 300 policemen and 100 people provided by Dahri resorted to aerial firing in the village and started bulldozing houses of the petitioner and others.

They began demolition of tube wells, looting household articles, wheat, ornaments, and took away cattle.

He said he and other people protested asking police to register an FIR but instead of lodging the FIR police booked them.

The additional AG Sindh Masood A. Noorani submitted statement of the DPO, denying contents of the petition and seeking it be dismissed as legal action had been taken by respondent for murder of Bachal.