KARACHI: Govt told to ascertain whereabouts of student
KARACHI, Feb 16: Terming personal affidavit of federal interior secretary regarding whereabouts of IBA student as insufficient, Sindh High Court Thursday directed the federal government that whereabouts of the student be ascertained within two weeks.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Ms Zahida Leghari who alleged that her son Affan Leghari was arrested by the law-enforcement agencies from his residence in Gulzar-i-Hijri on Oct 30, 2004 in connection with his alleged links with religious extremists groups.
On court’s direction to federal interior secretary for filing personal affidavit after due verification from all federal and other related agencies as regards whereabouts of the petitioner’s son, a statement on oath was filed by the federal interior secretary Syed Kamal Shah.
The secretary submitted that he has inquired from FIA and Islamabad police which come directly under the control of interior ministry which denied the arrest or detention of Affan Leghari.
SHC’s division bench, comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Zia Pervaiz, observed that affidavit of the secretary was insufficient as the matter pertains to life and safety of a person.
Adjourning the matter till March 1, the court directed the federal government to ascertain whereabouts of petitioner’s son from all federal and other related agencies and submit a statement in this regard.
CONVICTION SET ASIDE: The Sindh High Court on Thursday set aside conviction of two men, given by a trial court for kidnapping and murdering a retired DSP and acquitted them from charges.
Naveed Iqbal and Mohammad Aslam were sentenced to death by an additional district and session court Karachi south on May 15, 2004, having found guilty of kidnapping and murdering retired DSP Abdul Shakoor in Garden area Karachi.
Prosecution alleged that appellants had kidnapped the victim from a hairdresser’s shop on Dec 31, 1995, and later his body was found in a car in nearby area.
Their appeal against conviction was heard by SHC’s division bench, comprising Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery.
The court, after hearing arguments of appellants and state counsel, and examining the evidence of the case for reasons to be recorded later, set aside their death sentence and ordered their release if not involved in other cases.
Plea dismised: The Sindh High Court on Thursday dismissed an application filed by three men seeking transfer of kidnapping for ransom trial against them from anti-terrorism court to sessions court.
Qazi Hanifullah, Qazi Farhad and Sikandar Shah are charged with kidnapping a bank employee, Hamid Omer, for ransom on Sept 20, from Clifton.
Assistant Advocate General Habib Ahmed opposed the bail application.
SHC’s division bench, comprising Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery, after hearing the case dismissed the application and observed that at present there is sufficient material to frame charges under 365-A as ingredients of offence are attracted from abductee’s statement.
Meanwhile, the same bench granted bail to Mohammad Ashraf in four corruption references.
The applicant, along with other accused, made unauthorized payment of rebates in supply of cement to various firms.
Granting bail to the applicant with a surety of Rs1 million each, the court observed that case needs further inquiry and the applicant is entitled to bail in such circumstances.
CORRUPTION CASE: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh for Accountability Courts at Karachi, comprising Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi, on Thursday admitted an accused in a corruption case to bail.
Applicant Mohammad Ashraf was facing trial before an Accountability Court at Karachi on charge of securing un-authorized excess payment of rebate allowed to firms purchasing cement from cement manufacturers.
The bench after hearing the counsel for applicant and Deputy Prosecutor NAB admitted the accused to bail against a surety of Rs 1 million each in four cases of identical nature.
APPEAL ALLOWED: An appellate bench of Sindh High Court,comprising Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi, on Thursday allowed an appeal filed by two convicts and acquitted them of murder charge.
Naveed Iqbal and Aslam assailed death sentence awarded to them by an Additional District and Session Court, South for killing DSP (Retd) Abdul Sahakoor.
The bench, after hearing the sides, set aside their conviction and sentence giving them benefit of doubt.—PPI/APP
