SHC orders IG to remove Iqbal Market SHO

An inquiry is under way against him and others for illegally detaining a suspect's wife

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered on Monday the Sindh inspector-general (IG) of police to remove the SHO of the Iqbal Market police station in Orangi Town from his post till the completion of an inquiry against him and others for allegedly confining a suspect's family for three days.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar, also issued a show-cause notice to the West SSP to furnish an explanation why he should not be proceeded against for contempt of court for not appearing before the court despite the issuance of a notice.

The directions came on a petition of a woman, Shah Izat Bibi who had approached the court against confinement of her daughter-in-law by the Orangi Town police.

She alleged that the Orangi Town police had confined her daughter-in-law Shaheen along with her one-and-a-half-year-old child at her house for two days when they failed to find the petitioner's son Farman at the house. According to Bibi, the police also demanded illegal gratification for the release of her daughter-in-law.



On her request, the court had appointed its nazir as a commissioner to visit the house and recover the detainees.

Later, the nazir submitted a report, mentioning that he, along with the petitioner and Iqbal Market police, visited the house situated in Siddique Akbar Colony in Orangi Town.

According to the report, the door was opened by a police official. Three more police personnel were present inside the house along with Shaheen, her child and another woman Jameela, the report said.

It said that custody of Shaheen was given to the petitioner after obtaining a surety. The Iqbal Market SHO said neither woman was involved in the case. However, the petitioner's son was wanted in a murder case.

According to the police, Farman was a suspect in the murder of a councillor, Anees Siddiqui, and they had raided the house on the information of the suspect's presence. The police denied that they committed any illegal act.



Last week, the court directed the West SSP to explain why the police had raided the house and confined the woman and child.

During Monday's proceedings, the judges came down hard on the West SSP for not appearing before the court despite the issuance of clear directives. The bench issued him a show-cause notice to explain why he may not be proceeded against for committing contempt of court.

The bench ordered the IG to immediately remove the Iqbal Market SHO from his post till further orders and not to give him any field posting till the completion of inquiry against him and others.

In the meantime, the SHC ordered the West DIG to personally investigate the allegations against the SHO and his subordinates and submit a report within 15 days.