‘JIT not justified over false allegations’

Energy minister says he, education minister were found falsely accused of backing criminals


Our Correspondent November 20, 2020
Saeed Ghani. PHOTO: ONLINE

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The high-level committee formed by the Sindh IGP to probe into the allegations claiming provincial ministers Imtiaz Shaikh and Saeed Ghani were patronising criminals has found the accusations to be false, claimed Shaikh in a reply submitted to the Sindh High Court on Thursday.

Shaikh, the provincial energy minister, submitted the reply on a plea seeking the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate the allegations levelled against him and Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani.

The plea states that then-Shikarpur SSP Dr Rizwan had released a report stating Shaikh ran a criminal ring and had been using it to intimidate his rivals. According to the plea, Shaikh has also been providing shelter to criminals at guesthouses, farms, fuel stations and shops.

With regards to Ghani, the plea again refers to a report sent by Dr Rizwan to senior officials, claiming that the minister's brother, Farhan, had been running a network of drug dealers and hitmen in Chanesar Goth.

The petitioner called for the Election Commission of Pakistan to declare both ministers ineligible to hold seats in the provincial assembly and sought the formation of a JIT to probe the allegations levelled against them.

However, Shaikh contended in his reply that the formation of a JIT could be justified when a high-level committee had already found the allegations to be false. He further claimed the plea was filed on "political grounds."

Also seeking Ghani's reply on the plea, the court adjourned the hearing indefinitely.

Sentences annulled

Separately, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Nazar Akbar and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan, annulled the sentences meted out to five persons in a case pertaining to kidnapping for ransom and police encounter.

Hearing the plea challenging the conviction, the court also directed that the trial court hear the case again and issue a verdict "on the basis of merit" within a month.

Anti-Terrorism Court-2 had sentenced Danish, Sajjad, Asghar, Khawar and Sardar to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of kidnapping a citizen, Rahim Gul, in 2018 and demanding Rs10 million in ransom. Ali Muhammad Magsi, who was said to be their accomplice in the crime, had been acquitted by the trial court.

The petitioners' lawyer, claimed before the SHC that the trial court had ignored facts, merit and evidence.

At this, the court annulled the sentences handed to the five men and ruled that the case be heard again.

Illegal land allotment

Meanwhile, the court sought a progress report from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the investigation against Pakistan Peoples Party leader Jam Khan Shoro and others accused of illegal allotment of state land and accumulating assets beyond means.

During the hearing, Shoro's counsel submitted a power of attorney on his behalf to the court. Besides, the NAB prosecutor told the court that the anti-graft watchdog had completed the investigation against Shoro and other accused and it had been referred to the NAB headquarters in Islamabad so that a reference could be filed.

Seeking a progress report from NAB, the court extended the interim bail of the accused and adjourned the hearing till December 30.

According to NAB, the accused had illegally allotted land for a CNG station in Hyderabad. Evidence of accusations levelled against them has been collected, as per the NAB.

Missing person

Moreover, the court directed the police to ensure the recovery of Zeeshan Baloch, whose father told the court that his son had been missing since 2013.

During the hearing of the plea seeking Baloch's recovery, his father said, "I have approached all [relevant] authorities over the course of seven years and now my only hope lies with the court."

Policemen present at the hearing, however, sought more time for recovering Baloch.

At this, the court instructed them to ensure Baloch's recovery and sought a progress report on the matter, directing the police to submit it at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2020.

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