KARACHI: An investigation officer (IO) on Tuesday informed a judicial magistrate about the need to arrest former SP of Clifton Nayyar ul Haq as he was seen in CCTV footage of the Dharkhshan police station following the arrest and death of Moiz Naseem, a suspect who had died in police custody.

Meanwhile, the IO also brought Sub-Inspector Sanaullah — who had apprehended Junaid, a son of the deceased in an extortion case — along with other held suspects, Darkhshan SHO Ali Raza Leghari and head moharrir Faisal Leghari, before Judicial Magistrate Mazhar Ali, seeking an extension in their custody for further questioning.

After the proceeding held inside the judge’s chamber, the IO told Dawn that he had submitted the digital video recorder (DVR) in court of the Darkhshan police station, and the footage was played before the judge.

In the footage obtained from the Dharkhshan police station, IO told that it could be seen that first, the suspect Junaid, and then subsequently his father, were brought into the police station with blindfolds over their eyes. A few moments later, former SP of Clifton arrived at the station. The IO further explained that there was no footage available while the suspects were allegedly taken out of the station.

CCTV footage from Darkhshan police station played before judge

The IO requested the court to extend the physical custody of the suspects as he needed to check the criminal record and photo forensic analyses, adding that it was necessary to arrest former SP Clifton and other unknown suspects.

Upon IO’s request, the court extended two-day police remand and directed the IO to produce the suspects on April 25 along with case diaries and progress report.

Barrister Zainul Abideen, representing the legal heirs of the deceased, told Dawn that during the hearing, he had highlighted before the court that the former SP visited Naseem’s house multiple times on the nights of April 14 and 15.

However, the barrister also claimed that the former SP took along with him the DVR of the CCTV camera installed at the neighbour’s house, adding that the IO admitted in the court that although he had contacted the neighbours for their statements, they refused to testify due to fear.

Barrister Zain said that the court had directed the IO to incorporate the neighbour’s statements in the record.

On the other hand, the counsel for the SHO, Advocate Zakir Hussain Bughio, told Dawn that he apprised the court that on April 14 the duty officer and head moharrir of the station were on duty near Seaview.

Earlier, Additional District and Sessions Judge Ihsan Ali Malik (South) had granted post-arrest bail to Junaid, 19, a son of the deceased Naseem, against a surety bond of the sum of Rs50,000.

In its order, the court highlighted that the sections included in the FIR were non-congnizable in nature, however, the accused was arrested without taking permission from the magistrate.

During the proceedings, complainant Abdul Basit of an extortion case did not appear before the court, while the state prosecutor opposed the bail plea.

On the other hand, Barrister Zain contended that due to the complainant’s ‘influential family’ background, the police had implicated his client, Junaid, and deceased Naseem in a ‘bogus’ case.

He further contended that on April 14, the applicant, Junaid, was apprehended with his friend near DHA phase 8 without an arrest warrant, and on the same day, his father was allegedly picked up from his residence.

However, the police did not present him before the judicial magistrate the following day.

Instead, the investigation officer informed the court of the need to arrest Naseem for an alleged offence, the counsel argued.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2024