Social Activist Parween Rehman. PHOTO: FILE
A two-member-bench headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh and comprising Justice Omar Sial heard the bail pleas by three accused, Amjad Swati, Ayaz Ali and Imran Swati, in the murder case.
The counsel for the accused maintained that a JIT was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court. While addressing the counsel for Imran, the court asked where the report of the JIT is. The accused's counsel responded that they hadn't received the JIT report as yet. He added that his client has completed his sentence and has been in the jail for four years.
The court sought the JIT report at the next hearing and adjourned the hearing of bail pleas till May 30.
According to the counsels for the accused, final arguments couldn't be presented in the trial court for the past four months. The JIT has been formed thrice before. According to the government lawyer, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also interrogated the accused in jail.
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Return of surety
The same bench also heard the plea for return of the surety money deposited by former provincial minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. The court adjourned the hearing as Nazir's report regarding the return of surety amount for his bail wasn't received by the accused's counsel.
The defence lawyer argued that he hadn't received the report by SHC's Nazir following which, the court adjourned the hearing.
According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Sharjeel has been nominated in the corruption reference of Rs5.76 billion in Sindh information department.
Extension granted
While hearing the bail pleas of accused, former IG Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali, AIG Tanveer Tahir and others, in the corruption reference in Sindh police department, the same bench gave an extension till today (Friday) to the counsel for former AIG Faisal Bashir Memon to present his argument.
The other accused include Fida Hussain Shah, Kamran Rashid, Sarmad Midhat Hussain and Ali Asghar.
The court expressed annoyance over the absence of the accused's counsels. While addressing the junior lawyer of Advocate Farooq H Naek, the bench remarked till when should the court listen to the counsel for accused and give extensions.
The court inquired from Faisal if he had signed the cheque. The accused replied that yes he had. The court asked where the money of the cheques the accused had signed go, and if the angels had taken the money with them.
Faisal's counsel argued that extension should be given for the arguments. The court said it's enough, extension won't be granted again and again. The court gave extension to the accused's counsel till today (Friday) and adjourned the hearing.
NAB's prosecutor argued that the police officials, Tanveer Ahmed, Atiqur Rehman and Shafiq, had filed plea bargain pleas, which have been sent to the headquarters. The accused have been charged with causing a loss of Rs150 million to the national treasury.
According to NAB, reference had been filed on the complaint of general accounts controller. The accused allegedly committed corruption in police feeding fund, money was deducted from the salaries of the police officials and millions rupees of loss was caused to the national treasury in the name of maintenance of police cars. The accused also allegedly gave contracts to the people of their choice without tenders.
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Missing persons case
The SHC disposed of three pleas of missing persons when the police informed about the whereabouts of the missing persons.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Naimtullah Phulpoto, heard three pleas seeking recovery of missing persons. The report submitted by the police said that of the three missing persons, Oan, a bank employee, appeared before the bench after he returned home. The other missing person, Ghulam Ali, was arrested by the police while the third missing man, Saeed Ahmed, was killed in Mochko area. The police informed that culprits in Saeed Ahmed's murder case had been arrested. Three persons were missing since past several months.
The bench remarked that they try their best on a daily basis that the missing citizens return to their homes. The bench sought a report from Sindh inspector general of police (IGP) and Rangers director general on pleas of other missing persons till August 22.
Earlier, the police had submitted reports pertaining to the recovery of 20 missing persons. The families of missing persons have been following the proceedings for many years and as a result, a number of missing persons have been recovered.
(With additional reporting from PPI)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2019.
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