Jufelhurst school case: CTD arrests former SHO, seven other suspects

Police yet to solve mystery behind the demolition of building despite passage of four days

KARACHI: The Sindh police's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) took into custody on Wednesday over half-a-dozen suspects, including a former SHO of the Soldier Bazaar police station, in the Jufelhurst Government School case.

Despite the passage of four days, the mystery behind demolishing the heritage site is still unresolved. Former Soldier Bazaar SHO Irshad Soomro, Mukhtiarkar Ahmed Memon, Tapedar Ghulam Fareed, ASI Hakim and three police constables were taken into custody. However, the three suspects nominated in the FIR, including Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Inspector Adnan Ali, have yet to be arrested.



Soomro was suspended by his police superiors for helping the alleged builder mafia demolish the school. The suspects were detained by the CTD and their statements were recorded to help the investigators probe the case. Sources in the police said that the builder mafia, police and revenue officials were involved in the demolition.

On the other hand, police officials are still investigating the incident. Sindh Additional IG Aftab Pathan, who is investigating the case, told The Express Tribune that nothing can be said until the inquiry is completed.

"We have received some of the documents while some of the relevant persons, including an 80-year-old Christian woman who is an owner of the site and is currently living in the United States, have been questioned but there are many other things to be done," he said. The AIG said more documents have to be received and statements recorded.



The officer said the original owner has already filed a case in the Sindh High Court (SHC) to denationalise it. He said it seems that some of the government officials declared it a national heritage following a dispute with the owner.

"The owner gave the power of attorney to a person, Sajjad Bashir, who was a family friend. Bashir sold the land to Adnan and two others in 2016," the officer explained. "Adnan and the other persons involved in demolition should have approached the court and government before demolishing the building," the officer, adding that further investigation is under way.

FIA official gets bail

Inspector Ali, who is nominated in the case, obtained on Wednesday protective bail for five days from the SHC.

SHC's Justice Abdul Rasool Memon granted him bail against a surety of Rs50,000 till April 16. The judge clarified that this concession of protective bail shall remain operative for five days only, starting from Wednesday and will cease to exist on April 16, after court hours or before it when the applicant surrenders before the trial court, whichever is earlier.

Earlier, Ali had filed an application seeking protective bail in connection with FIR 87 of 2017 registered under sections 447, 511, 427 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 18 of the Sindh Culture Heritage Act, 1994.

Soldier Bazaar police alleged that Ali, Abid Qureshi and Zeeshan, along with their accomplices, demolished the building situated in the premises of the Jufelhurst Government School on the night of April 8.

Advocate Ali Sher Habibani argued that the applicant was booked in the crime with malafide intentions. He said the applicant intended to surrender before the trial court but apprehended his arrest before reaching the trial court at the instance of the complainants. Therefore, he pleaded for protective bail for the applicant.

A day earlier, Qureshi and Zeeshan had also obtained interim pre-arrest bail from the district and sessions judge (East) against a surety of Rs50,000 each.