KARACHI: After eight years, a judicial magistrate on Tuesday acquitted Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and five others in a case pertaining to the recovery of liquor from his Dr Ziauddin Hospital room.

The then chief justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar, had raided the room and allegedly found the liquor. Later, a case was registered at the Boat Basin police station under Section 4 (owning or possessing intoxicant) of the Prevention (enforcement of Hadd) Ordinance 1979 read with Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

On Tuesday, after hearing and examining the records, Judicial Magist­rate (South) Aasim Aslam acquitted Mr Memon and five others for lack of evidence against them.

In its order, the court observed that the prosecution alleged that the suspected liquor bottles were recovered from the possession of the accused persons. However, the chemical examination report of the recovered bottles does not support the prosecution allegations. Rather, it mentioned that the bottles contain honey and olive oil.

“Thus, both the reports being material pieces of evidence have failed to corroborate the prosecution version. It is settled principle of criminal jurisprudence that the prosecution is bound to establish the case beyond the reasonable doubt and the burden of proving the guilt of accused cannot be shifted upon him,” the court observed.

It added that mere allegations of the police officials in the absence of reliable and corroborative evidence were insufficient to sustain a conviction particularly when the scientific evidence available on record contradicts the prosecution story.

The judge also noted that the prosecution case in these circumstances has failed to establish the essential ingredients of the alleged offences beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to the prosecution, on Sept 1, 2018, the then assistant superintendent of Karachi Central Prison received information that illegal activities were taking place in a private hospital room where Mr Memon was staying due to illness. The room had been declared a sub-jail as Mr Memon was in judicial custody in connection with a NAB reference.

The prosecution added that jail police went to the room and recovered two bottles, one allegedly containing alcohol and the other apparently containing honey.

Later, a case was registered against Mr Memon and his employees at the Boat Basin police station.

During the trial, defence counsel Uroosha Memon argued before the court that Mr Memon was falsely implicated in the case for political victimisation.

She further argued that as per chemical reports the alleged bottles contained honey and olive oil, adding that despite it being a crowded place, the police did not associate any private witness.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2026