HYDERABAD, June 8: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday appointed DPO Umerkot to conduct inquiry into complaint of a petitioner about harassment at the behest of Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah.

Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari passed order on constitutional petition filed by Ghulam Nabi Khaskheli, a resident of the Samaro taluka of the Umerkot district.

He said that political differences existed between petitioner’s family and Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah.

He said that Syed Muzaffar Shah had been sending messages to the petitioner and his younger brother, Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli to join his political group but they refused.

He referred to local government elections of 2001 when Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli had defeated candidate, backed by Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah as Taluka Nazim Samaro and in 2002 general elections, Mr Shah was opposed by them.

He said that because of such differences Muzaffar Shah and his supporters got a false FIR registered under sections 457, 380 PPC at Samaro police station on complaint of Shakeel Ahmed against petitioner and his relatives, Abdul Samad and Ghulam Fareed.

He said that they were acquitted because prosecution failed to prove its case.

He said that another false FIR 56/05 was registered against Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli and his colleagues and police were harassing petitioner, his family members, haris, supporters and colleagues to cause them financial losses.

He said that respondent Samaro TPO Wali Mohammad Rajar and SHO Ghazi Khan Rajar were particularly annoyed with them after filing of civil suit, claiming compensation against Shakeel Ahmed and others following their acquittal in false FIR.

He alleged that they were being forced to withdraw the civil suit.

He said that on March 23, the Samaro police struck at agricultural lands of the petitioner and entered houses of petitioner’s haris in village located there.

“They dragged women and snatched their ornaments from ears and arms and robbed cash of Rs13,000. Children, elderly and women were maltreated with buts of gun”, he alleged.

He said that police beat up women family members namely Samjho, Kaisari, Vaali, Teji, Pancho, Radha Bai and Lachmi, a widow and took away wheat and other household articles.

He said that he again protested the incident which infuriated respondent police officers, leading to arrest of his kamdar namely Tamachi alias Chando in a false FIR 27/06 by the Samaro police.

He said that respondent police were harming him financially as they want to arrest him in a false case.

He said that no district public safety and police complaint commission was constituted thus he had no remedy available to him except that he should move the court.

He said that the court should restrain respondent police officers from harassing him and exerting pressure on him, his haris and family members in any manner.

He prayed the court to restrain respondent police officers from arresting him, his innocent haris and family members and registering false FIRs without prior intimation to high court.

He requested the court to direct DPO Umerkot to take action against TPO Samaro, SHO and additional SHO Samaro and lodge FIR against them, if cognisable offence is made out against them.

Additional advocate-general Masood A. Noorani submitted comments of DPO Umerkot, TPO Samaro, SHO and additional SHO Samaro police station, rejecting allegations of the petitioner against police.

The DPO said that applications were sent to the regional police officer and DIG police operations for inquiry which was conducted by the TPO Samaro and report was submitted to RPO.

The petitioner expressed his dissatisfaction over the inquiry conducted by the TPO on the ground that he was acting partially at the behest of his political rival, who is holding powerful post.

The court directed the DPO to conduct inquiry personally within three weeks.