KARACHI, Aug 20: The judicial magistrate, East, Zahid Hussain Maitlo called report from investigation officer regarding the release of former Orangi Town Nazim Shahid Alam, known as Guddu Bihari.
Shahid Alam is facing charges in an attempt to murder case.
The report was called on an application from Guddu’s defence counsel Shahadat Awan who sought release of his client from the illegal custody of the police.
He submitted that the former town nazim was forcibly and illegally arrested on July 18 from the Central Prison upon his release on the orders of the court.
The defence counsel stated that subsequently judicial magistrate Ehsan Durrani recovered him from the illegal detention on the orders of district and sessions judge, Malir. However, he said, the police defied the judicial order and they shifted the custody of Guddu to other police officers.
Shahadat Awan submitted that his client was implicated in a double murder case of Ferozeabad police. However, the police declared Guddu Bihari innocent in the police report under Section 169 of the CrPC and informed the court on Aug 2 that Guddu had been released.
The defence counsel submitted that the police, however, did not release the former nazim and they implicated him in yet another case.
He said his client, who was a leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, was implicated in the case to deprive him from participating in the local body election.
The defence counsel apprehended that his client might be implicated in yet another case as done in the past. “It is prayed that he be called in the court and set free in the interest of justice”, he requested the court.
The court after preliminary hearing of the application called report from investigation officer on Aug 22.
RANSOM CASE: An anti-terrorism court adjourned the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case against two accused after recording the statement of two prosecution witnesses, including the victim.
Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 fixed Aug 22 for the next hearing after the deposition victim Anas Ahmed and Mohammed Ashraf.
Mohammad Sheraz and Iqbal have been charged with kidnapping a 10-year-old schoolboy, Anis Ahmed, in Gulberg on April 6.
According to prosecution, the accused demanded Rs200,000 and 2.5 kgs of gold from victim’s father Nafis Ahmed, a goldsmith, and received Rs70,000 and a gold biscuit for his release.
The police later arrested them and recovered the ransom money and gold.
The victim deposed that accused Sheraz, who was also working as a servant at his house, took him from school and kept at a house. Later, Iqbal reached the house and they demanded ransom from his father.