Murder accused: SHC directs Rangers to allow suspect’s meeting with family

Rangers recently claimed to have arrested Asad Minhaj in murder case of former KESC MD


Our Correspondent February 15, 2016
Rangers recently claimed to have arrested Asad Minhaj in murder case of former KESC MD. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/EXPRESS

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Monday the Rangers to allow a suspect, nominated in the murder case of former managing director of Karachi Electric Supply Company, to meet his family at the Mitharam sub-jail.

The division bench passed this direction while disposing of a petition against the detention of Asad Minhaj by the paramilitary force. The family had taken the provincial chiefs of the police, Rangers and others to court for their alleged illegal detention of Minhaj.

In the petition, the court was pleaded to declare the detention illegal. During Monday's proceedings, the Rangers' law officer disclosed the custody of the missing person. In a report, the law officer said the suspect has been detained by the paramilitary force for 90 days for questioning in connection with a criminal case.

In the wake of the report, the bench disposed of the petition. It directed, however, the Rangers to allow a meeting of the suspect with his mother and other family members.

Arrest

On February 3 this year, the Rangers had claimed to have arrested a suspect allegedly involved in the murder of then managing director (MD) of Karachi Electric Supply Company (now K-Electric), Shahid Hamid, but was nominated in the case with his alias, Minhaj Qazi.

Identifying him as Minhaj, alias Asad, the Rangers said in a statement that during initial investigation, the suspect had confessed to his involvement in several target killings, including that of Hamid.

Hamid was gunned down near his DHA residence with his driver and guard in 1997. Two years later, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced Saulat Mirza to death in the case. He was hanged at Machh jail in Balochistan in May 2015.

"Minhaj, alias Asad, was nominated in the murder of the KESC MD with his alias Asad Qazi and was an absconder in the same case," the Rangers had claimed.

After declaring Minhaj's arrest, the Rangers had produced him the next day before the administrative judge of ATCs to inform the court about his 90-day preventive detention for questioning.

Justice Muhammad Farooq Shah was informed that the Rangers had placed the suspect under three-month preventive detention for inquiry upon receiving credible information about his involvement in target killings and other terrorism-related offences punishable under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

They claimed Minhaj was also absconding in a case registered by Rangers against Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Amir Khan for allegedly instigating terrorism and harbouring criminals.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2016.

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