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KARACHI, June 2: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday exempted former provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh and his brother, Maqbool Ahmed Shaikh, from personal appearance in cases being tried against them and adjourned the hearing of their joint petition to a date in office.
Advocate Raja Qureshi submitted on behalf of the petitioners that they were being victimised by the chief minister who has unleashed personal vendetta against them. One case after another was being registered by the various prosecution agencies working under the CM’s control. Even their farm came under attack by police.
The counsel said the cases fabricated against the petitioners should be ordered to be investigated by an impartial federal agency and till then they should be granted exemption from personal appearance in trial courts. He said his clients had already been extended interim protective bail by the high court in various cases. They apprehended threat to their lives and liberty if they appeared in cases being tried against them.
Raza Hashmi, appearing for the provincial government, submitted that the ex-minister had been free on anticipatory bail for the last about one year yet he had not cared to appear even once before any of the trial court.
The proceedings were being delayed because of his continued absence. The petition had no merit and the relief of exemption from personal appearance had not been sought by the petitioners. It had only been requested in the course of arguments.
The bench, which consisted of Justices Ghulam Rabbani and Gulzar Ahmed, observed that it would allow exemption to the petitioners till June 12.
ADJOURNED: A petition moved by Dadabhoy Investments against the sale of Javedan Cement by the Privatization Commission was on Friday adjourned to June 15 by another division bench, comprising Justices Zia Pervez and Rahmat Hussain Jafferi. Appearing for the petitioner, former attorney-general Aziz A. Munshi said Supreme Court was seized of petitions against the privatization of the Pakistan Steel.
The matter was being meticulously examined by the apex court and outcome of the PSM case may also have a bearing on the petition against the sale of Javedan Cement. He called for adjournment of hearing.
