KARACHI, June 6: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday sought a detailed report from the provincial authorities on the kidnapping of doctors in Hyderabad and the law and order situation in Shikarpur.

A division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar also issued a notice to the chief secretary, additional provincial police chief and others and put off the hearing of two petitions to a date to be later announced by the court office.

The petitions were filed by the Pakistan Medical Association, Hyderabad, and Mohammad Shaharyar Khan Mahar, a lawmaker of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), against the kidnapping and murder of Dr Aftab Ahmed Qureshi, a neurosurgeon, and the worsening law and order situation in Shikarpur.

In the petition, Mr Mahar stated that the law and order situation in Shikarpur was not very different from Karachi’s as 18 people were killed and six to seven persons kidnapped every month.

The petitioner submitted that law-enforcers had lost morale as criminals often attacked police stations, while some remote areas gave the impression as if there was no policing in the district.

He alleged that no action was being taken against criminals, because they were being patronised by government functionaries in some cases.

He said that the citizens were left at the mercy of the criminals and unscrupulous elements within the police department.

He prayed to the court to appoint an honest and brave police officer in the district to control the law and order situation.

In a letter sent to the chief justice, the PMA Hyderabad chapter sought action against the culprits involved in the kidnapping of doctors and killing of a senior surgeon, Dr Aftab Ahmed. He was murdered after being kept in captivity for more than 20 days.

The chief justice converted the applications of the legislator and the PMA as constitutional petition and directed the office to fix the matter before the court.

Harassment case

Another bench issued notices to the home secretary, provincial police chief, DIG West and others in a petition of a journalist against police torture and harassment.

Mohammed Munsif, a reporter of a local Urdu daily, submitted in the petition that he was tortured by Sharea Faisal SHO Inspector Khalid Marwat and his police party on June 3.

He submitted that an application was given to SP Latif Siddiqui, but no action was taken against the police officials.

The petitioner stated that plainclothes men were deputed on his surveillance and his movement was being monitored after the incident.

He apprehended threats to his life and prayed to the court to provide him protection.

Justice Mohammed Tasnim issued a notice to the respondent police officials and others and put off the hearing to June 28.