KARACHI: I, mother of Hafiz Mohammad Taha Hussain (accused in the Shahrukh Jatoi escape case), plead to the respected chief justice of Pakistan to kindly take active notice of the delays that are being created in the procedures of the above-mentioned case, with the result being that an innocent boy is being trapped by influential people.
My son started his job as junior traffic assistant (as a check-in counter agent) at the Emirates Airlines in August 2012. His job designation allows him only limited knowledge of the passengers. He was unaware of the fact that Shahrukh Jatoi (accused in the Shahzeb Khan murder case) was travelling as a passenger under the name of Syed Shahrukh. He did not know him by face. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the immigration authorities did not warn the staff of any criminal movement till then.
My son, Taha, was unfortunate that he was on duty at the counter through which Shahrukh Jatoi passed that day under protocol officers. The inquiry began in January and Taha told the truth that he had no involvement but was arrested on February 4, 2013 and was in custody of the FIA till February 9, 2013. He was then transferred to jail after a hearing on February 9. He was pressured to accept all the charges even though he is innocent. He was not given a fair chance to speak and prove his innocence in court. From time to time, he was offered to change his statement in exchange for money or his freedom.
Since the start of the case, unnecessary and unexplained delays occurred or were created. Hurdles were produced by stakeholders in the case. His bail procedure has also been delayed.
I, as a mother, feel the pain which my son is going through each day. His young mind under severe strain in the current scenario, being treated as a criminal when he is innocent. His studies are suffering, his career is under a shadow and the pain of being far from his family for the first time in his life under such circumstances, have completely damaged his personality and darkened his future, giving rise to deep depression.
My family and I have suffered each day since Taha was arrested as he was the main breadwinner for us. His father lost his job during this case. We suffer from the harsh and taunting behaviour of the people around us.
We belong to a lower-middle class family so we cannot afford reputed lawyers. We do not have any feudal connections or political affiliation, unlike the others accused in the case. Why is injustice being meted to only lower class people? Why are influentials overwhelming the common people? Why is injustice prevailing in our country? When will people stop worshipping feudal lords? For how long will innocent people, like my son, keep getting trapped for no wrongdoing? For how long will the mothers of innocents keep waiting for justice for their children?
We only have hopes from the justice system of Pakistan. I plead to the chief justice to take active notice of my innocent son’s case, as he has done in the Shahzeb Khan murder case, and provide speedy justice.
Aqsa Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2013.
