KARACHI, June 8: An anti-terrorism court issued on Thursday contempt of court notice to two officials of the Central Prison for allegedly taking bribe from an acquitted man before releasing him.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-V ordered the deputy superintendent of the prison, Khalid Shaikh, and his assistant Imtiaz Shaikh, to submit their replies on June 10 on the contempt of court application, filed by the defence counsel under Sections 3 and 5 of the Contempt of Court Act, read with Section 165 (1) © of the Police Order, 2002.

The judge had acquitted Rafiq Jatt, son of Dawood Jatt, on June 6 in a kidnapping of ransom case as the prosecution could not bring on record incriminating evidence against him. The judge issued the order for Jatt’s release at 1pm.

Defendant’s counsel Naeem Qureshi submitted before the court that the two jail officials did not release his client even after receiving the legal release order issued by the court. He alleged that the two Shaikhs delayed the release of Rafiq Jatt and they released him at 3am on June 7 only after they were paid Rs300,000 as bribe.

The defence counsel submitted that at mid night he went to the New Town police and submitted an application regarding the illegal confinement of his client by the jail officials. He also attached the application with the contempt of court application. He alleged that the two jail officials kept on demanding the bribe for the release of his client.

MURDER CASE: Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 put off hearing of a case of a police officer after recording the deposition of the investigation officer.

Special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum closed the side of the prosecution after examining investigation officer Inspector Saifullah Niazi, who was also cross-examined by defence counsel Fazalur Rehman Awan.

The judge fixed June 10 for recording statement of accused Sohail, who has been charged with the targeted killing of ASI Riyaz Ahmed on Jan 3 at Mir Adam Khan Road, Lyari, in Chakiwara.