Zulfiqar Mirza’s bail extended till May 30

Prosecutor argued that Mirza should be arrested since he had challenged writ of state, but extension was granted

KARACHI: An anti-terror court (ATC) on Tuesday extended the bail of former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza, and 46 others till May 30 in three cases of rioting, looting, attempt to murder and attacking police personnel registered against them earlier this month at a police station in Badin.

Mirza appeared in ATC-I along with scores of his supporters and lawyers, who managed to enter the court premises despite a strict curfew by authorities to allow only those named and their lawyers.

The hearing took place in an open courtroom, and the former home minister’s attorney Ashraf Samoo filed a plea before special judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso, to extend the bail of his client.

“My client is facing life threats from different corners. Even some law enforcers are harassing him on the orders of provincial government,” Samoo argued. “He is willing to cooperate with the investigators but some elements are putting hindrances. He would be harmed if taken into custody.”

Read: Zulfiqar Mirza appears before Karachi ATC for ransacking Badin police station

Special public prosecutor Muhammad Khan Burero, who has been tasked to fight the case on behalf of the state, opposed the extension in bail, arguing that the accused should be arrested because he had challenged the writ of the state.

“He is not cooperating with investigators. When he was summoned at the Darakhshan police station last time he went there along with dozens of his men who harassed the law enforcers,” Burero said. “There is also video proof available that Mirza threatened police personnel and asked his men to strike them.”

The video, which went viral on social media, was also submitted to the court to be considered as evidence against Mirza.

Tuesday's hearing, though hardly lasted for 10 minutes, and was concluded as the judge agreed to extend Mirza's.

Read: Splintering the party: Zulfiqar Mirza eyes new PPP faction

The ATC, however, adjourned the matter of transferring Mirza’s cases to a regular court till May 25, issuing notices to both the sides to come prepared on next hearing for arguments.

Just like the day of the first hearing, the entire Court Road and its adjacent streets were sealed with containers and not even media was allowed to enter. However, journalists managed to enter from the Sindh High Court’s gate which entered into the ATCs.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed on the court premises and on the rooftops of adjacent buildings.