The Sindh High Court sought arguments on Tuesday over the bail plea of Fayaz Solangi, arrested in Dua Mangi's abduction case, and directed the investigation officer to submit the case record.
During the hearing, the defence counsel contended that his client had not been nominated in the case initially, but the police included him in the investigations later.
The government's lawyer maintained that Solangi is involved in the kidnappings of Dua, Bisma and others.
The court sought arguments from the parties over Solangi's bail plea and directed the IO and the prosecutor to submit the case record at the next hearing.
Notices issued
Separately, the court issued notices to the parties over a plea pertaining to occupation and forging documents of two plots in Lucknow Cooperative Housing Society.
Petitioner, advocate Rubina Durrani maintained that she has been trying to acquire possession of her plots since 2013. She argued that she had bought two plots in the housing society but the former secretary made fake files of those plots.
She further maintained that she had acquired a stay order from the court on construction on these plots on February 2, 2017. However, contended the petitioner, construction has not been halted yet.
The court issued notices to the parties seeking their replies by January 11.
Dismissed official
Meanwhile, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar, issued notices to the Sindh local government secretary, metropolitan commissioner and other parties over a plea challenging the sacking of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's internal audit in-charge Afaq Saeed.
Saeed's counsel stated that his client is a Grade 19 officer. The counsel maintained that a circular was issued last year on December 4, after which several KMC officials were demoted.
The counsel contended that Saeed has been working at the KMC since 1993 and received several promotions during this time. But now he is being terminated from service without any reason, argued the counsel, praying the court to restrict KMC from removing his client from his post.
The court issued notices to the provincial local government secretary, metropolitan commissioner and other parties seeking their replies by January 13.
Report sought
Another two-member bench, headed by Justice Iqbal Kalhoro, directed the National Accountability Bureau to submit a report after filing the reference in relation to the graft inquiry against two former Malir municipal commissioners.
The court was hearing the bail pleas of the two former officials accused of committing corruption in the Malir municipal funds.
The IO informed the court that the reference has been sent to NAB headquarters for approval after the completion of inquiry, and the reference will be filed in two weeks.
The NAB prosecutor maintained that the former municipal commissioners of Malir district made irregularities in the funds during different time periods.
The petitioners' counsel argued that NAB kept the accused under custody for 90 days but didn't file the reference within the required time. He moved the court to release the accused on bail.
The court remarked that arguments on the bail pleas will be heard if the reference is not filed by January 20.
The court directed NAB to file the reference within two weeks and sought case record against the accused from the IO and NAB prosecutor.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2021.
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