Paramilitary sub-inspector allegedly took money to locate abductees but failed to help find them. PHOTO: AFP
The bench, headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, granted him bail in sum of Rs500,000. Tumman had approached the high court after an anti-terrorism court rejected his bail plea in May 2014.
According to the prosecution, four men — Havaldar Lala Ameen, Shiraz, Ghazi Khan and Sher Afzal — were kidnapped by unidentified men on July 31, 2010. The prosecution alleged that the culprits came to the abductees' residence, near the Karachi central jail, in a hi-roof van and took them away.
Muhammad Yousuf, a relative of the captives, had registered a case, FIR 336/10, at the New Town police station under Section 365-A of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. Shiraz's mother, Khaula, had also approached the police and the court for her son's recovery.
The prosecution contended that while the complainants were searching for the abducted men, two Rangers officials, namely Tumman and Sher Afsar, offered to help locate the missing persons. They took Rs100,000 from the complainants but failed to give any clue about the whereabouts of the men.
Amir Mansoob Qureshi, Tumman's lawyer, argued that the prosecution had failed to establish the allegations and his client may, therefore, be granted bail. He argued that there were glaring contradictions in the statements of the witnesses but the trial court had failed to appreciate them. The court was pleaded to set aside the ATC's order and extend bail to Tumman, who was entitled to it under the law.
The bench granted bail to the applicant, subject to furnishing surety of Rs500,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2015.
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