SHC issues notice to Faryal Talpur in Rs90b corruption case

Deceased rickshaw driver's brother files petition against traffic police


Our Correspondent October 30, 2018
Faryal Talpur. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday a notice to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Faryal Talpur in a case relating to alleged Rs90 billion corruption in development projects of Larkana.

Justice Muhammad Mazhar Ali approved the application for immediate hearing and issued notices to Talpur for November 16.

The petition was filed by Bashir Abbais, who stated that Talpur did not submit her reply for long and hence the court should issue a notice. The court remarked that the bench would summon if anyone is needed, however, the verdict will be announced on merit.

The petitioner alleged that the funds of Larkana development schemes were also being sent abroad through money laundering. He had requested that fair investigation be carried out against the accused.

Rickshaw driver's self-immolation case

The brother of a rickshaw driver, Khalid, who had self-immolated to protest alleged extortion by traffic police, approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday for justice and filed a petition against the traffic policemen involved in the matter.

Khalid's brother maintained that police wanted to save their colleagues. He said charges of murder should be included in the FIR against the traffic policemen who had demanded bribe from his brother.

He alleged that traffic policemen were responsible for his brother's death. The police were not returning his brother's rickshaw to his family, he added.

Khalid had set himself on fire after refusing to give bribe to a traffic police official on Sharae Faisal on October 20.

According to Khalid's statement that was shared on social media, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohammed Hanif had been extorting Rs100 from the driver daily. He gave the policeman Rs50 on October 20, but the latter insisted on Rs100. On refusal to pay the bribe, the ASI handed Khalid a challan. Faced with the fine, Khalid sprinkled oil on his body and set himself on fire.

Khalid was admitted to the Burns Ward of Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi where he succumbed to his injuries two days later.

According to the rickshaw driver, his challan was without any merit and the traffic police had victimised him several times.

Naqeebullah murder case

Expressing displeasure over the absence of the petitioner's counsel, Barrister Faisal Siddiqui, who had expressed lack of confidence in the judge of a trial court hearing the Naqeebullah murder case, the SHC adjourned the hearing until November 5.

A two-member bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh heard the plea filed over lack of confidence in the judge of a trial court hearing the Naqeebullah murder case. Justice Sheikh remarked that he had not witnessed such an attitude even in the court of judicial magistrate and said that a last chance is being given, warning that the hearing will not be adjourned next time.

The junior counsel informed that Siddiqui was busy with a case in the Supreme Court. To this, Justice Sheikh responded that the case hearings are adjourned every time. He said that the counsel [Siddiqui] criticises the absence of the counsel of the other party. The CJ further remarked that the arguments can be completed within 15 minutes.

The petition maintained that Naqeebullah's father has expressed lack of confidence in the anti-terrorism court judge.

Sharjeel Memon case

A two-member bench of the SHC granted extension to the counsel of the petitioner, Faiz Shah, relating to the return of PPP leader Sharjeel Memon's surety bail. The petitioner's counsel had sought an extension for arguments. The court, accepting the plea of the counsel, adjourned the hearing. According to the National Accountability Bureau prosecutor, Memon's surety bail was confiscated on court orders. The filed petition stated that Memon's Rs7 million as surety bond is deposited in court. Memon was arrested in a corruption reference of Rs5.76 billion.

With additional input from PPI 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2018.

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