Court orders respondent to appear on Dec 12

SHC expresses dissatisfaction with JIT reports in missing persons' case

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed all the respondents in the contempt of court case against the K-Electric and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to ensure their presence on the next hearing on December 12.

As a two-member bench began the hearing of the case, lawyer for the petitioner, Barrister Faisal Siddiqui, objected on the absence of Nepra's counsel, Kashif Mehmood, saying that in every hearing someone opts to stay away due to which the case cannot proceed.

He said that entire city continues to suffer on account of unannounced load-shedding by the KE adding that had the power utility implemented court's earlier order, 50% of the problem would have been resolved.



Petitioner Karamat Ali, in his plea, maintained that KE and Nepra continue to disregard court's order of May 22, 2018, and by failing to implement court's order they were committing a contempt of court. The petitioner prayed that as unannounced load-shedding continues to this day, contempt of court proceedings should be initiated against KE and others.

Missing persons' case

Another bench of the SHC, while expressing its anger over the performance of police officials and dissatisfaction over the reports of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) in the case of recovery of more than 50 missing persons, directed the authorities to submit a report on the next hearing.

Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, presiding over a two-member bench, remarked that the police reports are based on stories and legends. The court expressed its anger over the police officials over the non-recovery of missing persons. The court also expressed its lack of confidence on the police officials and the reports of JITs. The court room was filled with the relatives and near ones of the missing persons. The court remarked that the government should act with responsibility and all resources should be utilised for the recovery of the missing persons. The court said that advanced technology should be used to help recover the missing persons.

The lawyer of a petitioner said that his client, who used to work as a painter, was taken into custody from New Karachi. It was argued that JITs have been formed since 2014 but no results have been achieved. Another lawyer informed the court that his client, Nur Zaman, is missing from Federal B Area since 2015. So far six JITs have been formed but nothing has been known of him. Muhammad Younis is missing since the 5th of January 2015 and six JITs have been formed. The court after hearing the case ordered the police officials to present the progress report on the next hearing.

Minor's murder

A bench of SHC ordered the investigation officer to appear on the next hearing on December 14 in the case pertaining to the bail pleas of accused in the rape and murder of a minor, Rabia, in Manghopir area. Justice Iqbal Kalharo headed the two-member bench that heard the case. During the hearing, the mother of Rabia wailed and said that her daughter was killed after being raped. She lamented that justice was not provided to her till this day and now the suspects have applied for bail. She said that she was being threatened to take back the case or else her husband would lose his life. She said that the murderers are influential and they had left their home out of fear but these people manage to reach them everywhere.

Rabia's mother appealed for justice and vowed that she would self-immolate if justice was not provided. She said that when justice was provided to Zainab then the same should be done for Rabia.

Justice Iqbal Kalharo remarked that they are sitting here to provide justice and the bail pleas will be decided on merit. The court summoning the investigation officer on the next hearing postponed the hearing.

According to police, six-year-old Rabia was kidnapped and then killed after being raped. Rabia's dead body was found from trash. The post mortem report confirmed rape. Mehar Ali Fazal and Faqeer Muhammad have been arrested in the case. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2018.