SHC annuls sentence of man accused of extortion

Orders police to provide security to a man who had married on his free will

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) accepted the plea of an accused, Muhammad Nawaz, against the sentence awarded to him in a case of extortion and annulled the sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Khadim Hussain Tunio, announced the verdict on the plea filed by accused, Muhammad Nawaz, against the sentence awarded to him. The court accepted the plea and annulled his sentence.

An anti-terrorism court had awarded 10 years imprisonment to Muhammad Nawaz in 2017.

The petitioner had given the statement that the accused was demanding Rs500,000 as extortion on phone calls, while the counsel for the accused, Advocate Muhammad Farooq argued that no recovery had been made from his client and the petitioner didn't even remember which of his numbers the accused had called him on. The case against the accused was registered in Orangi Town Police Station.

Heavy traffic

The SHC ordered the Karachi Commissioner and others to appear before the court on September 17, in a case pertaining to the restriction on heavy traffic from entering Karachi.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal, was hearing the case. The government's lawyer presented details of a joint conference between five stakeholders. Sindh Advocate-General maintained that no mutual agreement could be reached in the conference. The issue of transfer of the terminal's land outside the city couldn't be resolved.

The court expressed dissatisfaction with the response given by the revenue and transport departments. It ordered to first resolve the issue of 100 acres of land and let the buses run if they couldn't give a satisfactory answer.

The court summoned the chief secretary, along with a progress report, at the next hearing and ordered the Karachi Commissioner and others to appear before it on September 17.

Free-will marriage

A woman failed to provide satisfactory response to the court regarding her will to go with her parents or husband over a plea filed by the couple who had married of their free will. The SHC ordered the girl to be sent to Darul Aman.

The couple appeared before Justice Salahuddin Panhwar. The woman, identified as Shabana, failed to satisfy the court with her answer regarding her will to go with her parents or husband.

Shabana's husband, Shahbaz, said that his wife was pregnant, therefore the court should allow her to go with him. The court sought Shabana's medical report and ordered the police to provide security to Shahbaz.

The court adjourned the hearing till August 29. The families of the couple engaged in a clash in the courtroom. The women on both sides started kicking and punching each other. Shabana also fainted in the court premises.

According to police, Shabana and Shahbaz had married against the wishes of Shabana's parents. Both are residents of Ghotki and had come to the court for the hearing of a kidnapping case filed by the woman's family.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2019.