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The case of the 'four suspects' illegal release' surfaced recently when an ATC directed the authorities to produce them before it for trial. The jail authorities instead told the court that the suspects were not with them since they were released nearly a month-and-a-half ago on a judicial magistrate’s orders.
Manzoor Ahmed, Muhammad Umar, Khalid Ahmed and Amanullah were remanded to prison by an ATC on July 22 this year. They faced a number of charges that included possession of explosive material and unsafe transportation of Iranian oil. Later, the cases against them were bifurcated as the oil subject was referred to a judicial magistrate while the explosives matter remained with the ATC.
ATC sentences two to 14 years in prison
A twist in the story emerged in December, when the ATC, having issued production orders a number of times, was told that the suspects were released on October 6. The jail superintendent, Qazi Nazeer, in his reply told the judge that the suspects were released on the orders of the third judicial magistrate of District West.
The judge, Farman Ali Kanasro, expressed resentment over the reply and observed that jail authorities were well aware of the suspects being tried by him. The matter was then subjected to an inquiry into the alleged wrongdoing regarding the suspects' release. Meanwhile, Nazeer was removed from his post.
On Tuesday, he appeared before the judge and said that the assistant superintendent of the jail, Syed Kamal Shah, and clerk, Zafar Iqbal, were being investigated for alleged negligence and a case was registered against them at New Town police station. The judge issued notice to the investigation officer tasked with the case against the jail officials to appear before him in person and bring along the case record on January 4, 2016.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2015.
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