RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Monday directed the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi to investigate Ch Tanveer, former Senator of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to ascertain whether he was involved in the murder of ex-MPA Ch Adnan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) or not.

LHC Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan was hearing pre-arrest bail application of Chaudhry Tanvir in the murder case.

The court did not grant him even interim bail, however, Justice Sadaqat directed the police to conclude the probe in 10 days asking the RPO to invoke the discretionary power to defer his arrest till the collection of evidence.

The learned judge cited the Supreme Court judgement of 2018 in which the Chief Justice of Pakistan laid down the procedure of arrest of an accused in a criminal case. The apex court ruled that the police can take a suspect into custody after collection of tangible evidence.

At the outset, Justice Sadaqat inquired from the investigating officer about the evidence available against Tanvir.

He said that the motorbike used in the assassination of Adnan belonged to the driver of Chaudhry Tanvir. He said that police had arrested two alleged assassins and one of them testified against the ex-senator.

According to him, the call detail record (CDR) of the alleged assassins shows they were in contact with Chaudhry Tanvir.

Justice Sadaqat remarked that the superior courts have ruled in a number of cases that the statement of a co-accused has no evidential value.

“The evidence should be tangible,” he said adding that “since the accused is facing the charge of abetment, therefore, the investigation officer must have the evidence where the conspiracy was hatched, statement of a witness against whom the conspiracy was planned”.

“Do you have this evidence?” the judge inquired.

The investigating officer replied in the negative.

Justice Sadaqat then summoned the RPO and directed him to probe the role of Chaudhry Tanvir in this case.

The RPO assured the court that the police will not take him in custody until the probe is concluded.

Counsel for Chaudhry Tanvir requested the court to issue direction of not arresting his client.

Justice Sadaqat turned down the request and said that he will not issue such direction adding that it is up to the police, if the accused is found innocent, he would be discharged from the case, the police may arrest him otherwise.

The Civil Lines Police of Rawalpindi nominated Tanvir, his son MNA Daniyal Chaudhry, and Changez Khan on the complaint of the deceased’s in-laws for their alleged involvement in the killing of Adnan.

Adnan, 48, was killed by unidentified motorcycle riders outside the Police Lines Headquarters on Feb 12. The murder occurred in the Civil Lines area, which has already been declared as the ‘red zone’ in the garrison city.

According to the complainant, his brother-in-law Chaudhry Adnan was on his way to his residence in Jhanda Chichi in a black SUV with his aides, after negotiating a land issue at a housing society office. His vehicle was also accompanied by another car.

When the vehicles stopped at the traffic signal near Jinnah Park, two unidentified persons wearing ‘shalwar kameez’ came close to the driving seat of Ch Adnan’s vehicle and started firing on him. The FIR said that Adnan was hit in the neck, face, and other body parts while the assailants sped off on their motorcycle which was parked across the road. Chaudhry Adnan died while being shifted to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital by the emergency service staff of Rescue 1122.

According to the FIR, “Chaudhry Adnan had a political rivalry with Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, Chaudhry Changaiz Khan, Daniyal Chaudhry, and Osama Tanveer; whereas a property case was in the court of law against Luqman Kamil,” said the FIR, adding that Adnan often used to say that “he fears for his life and if any harm was done to him, these people would be responsible”.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2024