SHC irked at IO in doctor suicide case
PHOTO: FILE
The Sindh High Court reserved the verdict on Tuesday on the bail pleas of accused in female doctor, M’s* suicide case, expressing annoyance over the police for carrying out “substandard investigation.”
It was further irked when the investigation officer (IO) informed it that he couldn’t produce the receipt issued by a laboratory, confirming that DNA samples of the deceased had been sent for testing.
“You have kept M’s family as well as the accused in waiting. We suspect that you haven’t even sent the deceased’s DNA samples for testing,” the court rebuked the IO. Then, when it sought from him the receipt that was to be issued by a laboratory in Lahore after receiving the samples, the IO told him that he couldn’t present the receipt. He said he himself took the sample to Lahore via train.
Irate, the court asked, “Don’t you have anything [to present to the court] at the moment?”
The IO also failed to present the postmortem report that was to be prepared following the exhumation of M’s body.
“M died by suicide on August 18, 2020, but we are yet to receive the report,” he told the court.
At this, the court further admonished him, stating, “What’s was the point of sending DNA samples to Lahore [for testing] when the [postmortem] report had not been released?”
Besides, the lawyers completed their arguments, with accused Junaid’s counsel contending the accuseds’ arrest.
“Bilal Saad and others accused in the case have been arrested on the basis of their mobile phone records,” he said.
In rebuttal, advocate Amir Mansoob said the call details records of the accused, who had been supplying drugs to M, proved that they were in contact with her. Further stating that accused Junaid also had a criminal record prior to him being booked in the case, he moved the court to reject his bail plea.
Moreover, the IO informed the court that the statements of 17 witnesses had been recorded under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Reserving the verdict on the bail pleas, the court adjourned the hearing.
Earlier, South judicial magistrate had rejected the accused’s bail pleas in the case, following which they approached the high court.
Plea admitted
Separately, the court admitted a plea challenging the formation of Keamari District for hearing.
The plea filed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan MPAs states that Keamari district municipal corporation (DMC) has been established on “political grounds”, terming the notification issued for the purpose “illegal.” The MPAs have argued in the plea that the formation of Keamari DMC contradicts the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, adding that another case pertaining to the matter is under trial in the Supreme Court.
They have moved the court to nullify the notifications issued by the Sindh government for the formation of Keamari DMC and distribution of resources in that connection.
NAB inquiry
At another hearing, the court sought an explanation from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the progress of an investigation initiated against Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani on charges of financial irregularities and appointment of favoured persons in the Sindh Assembly’s new building.
It was hearing a plea seeking the initiation of an inquiry against Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.
At the hearing, the court expressed annoyance over the NAB prosecutor and the IO’s absence.
Issuing directives for the NAB director general in Sindh and the IO to ensure attendance at the next hearing, the court sought an explanation from the former over the progress of investigation against Durrani.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2020.