IG files third affidavit in contempt case

Case lodged after the police allegedly held siege at the high court building twice

KARACHI: Sindh police chief, IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, has filed the third affidavit in the Sindh High Court (SHC) pleading the opportunity of a hearing before he is charged with contempt.

The court is set to frame contempt charges against IG Jamali, former Karachi AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo and 13 other police officers over holding siege at the high court’s building twice. Headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, the bench will take up the matter on Tuesday (today).

Other policemen named in the case are DIG West Feroze Shah, City SSP Fida Hussain Janwari, Saddar SP Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqui, SSU incharge Major (retd) Saleem, Legal AIG Faisal Bashir Memon, former SP Raees Abdul Ghani, West Headquarters SP Tahir Noorani, South DIG Dr Jamil Ahmed and SI Jahangir Mahar.

Earlier, the matter was being heard by another bench headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah before his elevation as SHC chief justice. Filing fresh affidavits, IG Jamali and AIG Thebo pleaded the court defer their indictment. According to an official privy to the development, the officers have argued that they had not been given an opportunity of a hearing before the contempt charges were framed, which is mandatory in cases of such serious nature.

The proceedings against the police officials were initiated on an application moved by former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, who held them responsible for the May 23 events that unfolded in the SHC building. Several masked and armed policemen laid a siege around the premises and some policemen had brutally beaten up the guards providing security to Mirza and media persons.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2015.