Contempt of court: SHC issues notices to Sindh IG, police authorities

Petitioner blames IG, SSP of withdrawing security given to him by court due to threats

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Wednesday notices to the provincial home and police authorities on requests of the petitioner and lawyer pursuing the high-profile cases relating to May 12 carnage, Baldia factory fire and Parween Rehman's murder.

The court directed the home secretary and the Sindh police IG Allah Dino Khawaja to file their comments. Syed Muhammad Iqbal Kazmi, who has filed a petition seeking judicial inquiry into the May 12, 2007 bloodshed in Karachi, moved a contempt of court application.

The petitioner said that on the instructions of the IG, the SSP Ehsanullah Malik had ordered withdrawal of security guards provided to him on the orders of the court. Kazmi alleged that he was kidnapped on January 17 this year in the absence of the security guards.

He argued that withdrawal of security guards, who were provided to him, amounts to committing contempt of the court. Therefore, he pleaded to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the IG and SSP Malik.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, directed the IG and the SSP to personally appear in the court along with their comments. Till then, they were also directed to continue provision of adequate security to the petitioner, as permitted under the law, till the final disposal of the petition.

The same bench also issued notices to the provincial home secretary, the IG police and relevant SSP to file comments by March 18 regarding withdrawal of security provided to a lawyer, Advocate Salahuddin Panhwar, who is appearing in high-profile cases.

Panhwar had taken the authorities to the court, saying that he was appearing in the high-profile cases, including case of Baldia factory fire and Parveen Rehman's murder. Panhwar said he was given security guards due to threats to his life for pursuing such cases.

However, he alleged that recently the relevant SSP had ordered withdrawal of the guards purportedly on the directives of the IG. The judges were informed that there were serious threats to life of the petitioner, therefore, the provincial home and police authorities may be ordered to provide him adequate security, as permitted under the law.

After initial hearing, the bench issued notices to the home secretary, IG and the SSP to file written comments in ten days when the matter will be taken up again.