Court summons police chief, prisons IG
Petitioner's counsel says prisoner still detained for 30 days even after acquittal
PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court summoned on Thursday the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IG) and Prisons IG in the next hearing of a petition pertaining to the detention of a prisoner acquitted in the PIDC bomb blast case.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, was hearing the case, where Sindh IG Mushtaq Mahar, Sindh Prisons IG Nusrat Hussain Mangan, the Sindh home secretary and others appeared before the court. The judges ordered the authorities to present the prisoner, Abdul Hameed Bugti, in court at the next hearing.
The petitioner's counsel maintained that the home department had detained Bugti under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance for 30 days even after his acquittal.
The Sindh advocate-general stated that Bugti was detained following reports from several law enforcement agencies and submitted a detailed report prepared by the home secretary about the suspect. He added that Bugti was booked in 11 cases and was acquitted from 10 cases but was declared wanted in one case.
"How can an imprisoned suspect be a wanted criminal?" the bench asked Mahar, who replied that Bugti was an absconder.Displeased, the court questioned how a suspect could be an absconder when he was behind bars. Mahar responded that there had been miscommunication. Mazhar stated that the authorities would be given time to explain the reason for his detention under MPO.
The advocate-general assured the court that confidential details about Bugti would be shared with it, requesting the bench to order the petitioner's counsel not to issue any statement to the media.
Stating that action would be taken against the authorities if they failed to satisfy the court, the bench summoned Mahar and Mangan at the next hearing on May 30, while also ordering the authorities to present Bugti in court. Moreover, the court sought further details about the case by June 18.
Police harassment
Separately, the court directed the West SSP to conduct an inquiry against the Pakistan Bazaar SHO for allegedly harassing a woman, Shagufta, within the limits of the Pakistan Bazaar police station.
The bench, comprising Justice Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, expressed anger at the accused SHO for failing to appear in court despite being ordered to do so.
"The judicial staff has been told that the head moharrar will receive the notice. If the police will respond in this way to the high court's notice, how will they treat others?" asked Justice Mazhar. Shagufta testified in court that she was constantly threatened and harassed by the police and her ex-husband.
The court directed the West SSP to investigate the SHO's actions.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2020.
The Sindh High Court summoned on Thursday the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IG) and Prisons IG in the next hearing of a petition pertaining to the detention of a prisoner acquitted in the PIDC bomb blast case.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, was hearing the case, where Sindh IG Mushtaq Mahar, Sindh Prisons IG Nusrat Hussain Mangan, the Sindh home secretary and others appeared before the court. The judges ordered the authorities to present the prisoner, Abdul Hameed Bugti, in court at the next hearing.
The petitioner's counsel maintained that the home department had detained Bugti under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance for 30 days even after his acquittal.
The Sindh advocate-general stated that Bugti was detained following reports from several law enforcement agencies and submitted a detailed report prepared by the home secretary about the suspect. He added that Bugti was booked in 11 cases and was acquitted from 10 cases but was declared wanted in one case.
"How can an imprisoned suspect be a wanted criminal?" the bench asked Mahar, who replied that Bugti was an absconder.Displeased, the court questioned how a suspect could be an absconder when he was behind bars. Mahar responded that there had been miscommunication. Mazhar stated that the authorities would be given time to explain the reason for his detention under MPO.
The advocate-general assured the court that confidential details about Bugti would be shared with it, requesting the bench to order the petitioner's counsel not to issue any statement to the media.
Stating that action would be taken against the authorities if they failed to satisfy the court, the bench summoned Mahar and Mangan at the next hearing on May 30, while also ordering the authorities to present Bugti in court. Moreover, the court sought further details about the case by June 18.
Police harassment
Separately, the court directed the West SSP to conduct an inquiry against the Pakistan Bazaar SHO for allegedly harassing a woman, Shagufta, within the limits of the Pakistan Bazaar police station.
The bench, comprising Justice Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, expressed anger at the accused SHO for failing to appear in court despite being ordered to do so.
"The judicial staff has been told that the head moharrar will receive the notice. If the police will respond in this way to the high court's notice, how will they treat others?" asked Justice Mazhar. Shagufta testified in court that she was constantly threatened and harassed by the police and her ex-husband.
The court directed the West SSP to investigate the SHO's actions.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2020.