KARACHI, Feb 28: The Sindh High Court on Monday issued notice to the AG Sindh for March 3 on a petition seeking investigation against the Sindh Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and others for illegally confining an estate agent, Abdul Hafeez Shoro.
The estate agent, who was recovered from bathroom of the Anti-Corruption Establishment by a judicial magistrate in a raid on Feb 25 also sought protection to members of his family from government machinery of the province.
He submitted that he was compelled to make a statement before media and the representatives of Prime Minister's inspection team, who came to probe the matter regarding allegations of corruption against the sacked Sindh minister for revenue, Imtiaz Sheikh, and his brother Maqbool Sheikh by the CM, while he had no information with regard to involvement of Imtiaz Sheikh and his brother in corruption and transactions of government land on the basis of fabricated record.
The petitioner stated in his petition that he was confined to CM House on Feb 17 and 18 to give a statement against the sacked minister and his brother where respondents threatened him to book in several cases if he did not do so.
Later, he said, he was confined to the bathroom of the office of ACE. CM, Mohammad Ali Durrani, secretary to CM, Ghaffar Qureshi political secretary to CM, Sultan Khawaja, Director ACE, Sabir Rajput, political coordinator to CM, Asad Ashraf, Chariman, ACE, IGP and Sindh government were named as respondents in the petition.
The court was prayed to arrest the respondents and that investigation be undertaken under the supervision of superior court in the event that incriminating material is recovered against the CM and he should also be taken into custody and be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The petitioner further requested the court to restrain the respondents from exercising any such powers which may lead to his arrest and direct the ACE to place the entire record of cases against the personnel of the revenue department on directives of the CM.
SHC's division bench, comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Azizullah M Memon, issuing notice to the AG, in the meantime, ordered that the petitioner should not be harassed.
DEMOLITION ORDERED: Sindh High Court Monday directed the officials of Karachi Building Control Authority KBCA to carry out demolition in respect of unauthorized construction in survey No 713 Jaffer Tayar Cooperative Housing Society in Malir and submit a report on March 7.
The court also fixed March 7 for framing charges against alleged contemnors UC-5 Nazim of Malir Town Jafferul Hasan and nine others for violating court orders. -PPI