HYDERABAD, Nov 20: Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany of the Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit has summoned a former SDM of Matiari, Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah, requiring him to explain under what authority he has passed the order asking the police to lodge an FIR in a civil matter.

Matiari SDPO Manzoor Khatian, SHO Khuda Bux Thebo of Shahpur police station and others filed their statements through Additional Advocate General of Sindh Masood A. Noorani denied that they had harassed the petitioner.

They claimed that they had proceeded against the petitioner and his wife in accordance with law.

A hand written application was submitted before the court, containing directives of the SDM for the SHO of Shahpur, directing him to lodge the FIR and send the compliance report.

The court ordered that Ms Nazeer Begum and petitioner Manzoor Ali should be present in the court on Nov 29 so that their statements could be recorded.

The court said that the notice should be issued to the former SDM to explain under what authority of law he has passed the order whereupon he directed that an FIR to be lodged against the petitioner.

The court heard Javed Bukhari, advocate, who appeared on behalf of petitioner.