SHC seeks arguments on Uzair Baloch’s plea for copy of military court verdict

Directs parties to submit replies on plea challenging Police Act

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought arguments on Thursday on the maintainability Lyari gang warlord Uzair Baloch's plea stating that he was not provided a copy of the decision of the military court that tried him.

The petitioner's counsel stated that a petition against the sentence from the military court was also pending in the Supreme Court.

He said that they were not provided a copy of the military court's decision.

"How can we file an appeal [against the decision] if we are not provided a copy?" he asked.

Also read: Court acquits Uzair Baloch in two cases

The court sought arguments on the petition's maintainability and adjourned the hearing till April 15.

Police Act

Separately, the court directed the parties to file their replies at the next hearing in constitutional petitions challenging the Police Act, 2019.

The government did not respond to the petition.

The court asked why the government had not submitted a response.

The assistant advocate general stated that he would submit a written reply at the next hearing.

The court directed the parties to file their replies at the next hearing and adjourned the hearing till March 30.

Danish Kaneria appeal

Moreover, a two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito sought the details of cases registered against cricketers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt in cricketer Danish Kaneria's plea to join the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB's) rehabilitation programme.

The court inquired about charges framed against Kanreia, to which the PCB's lawyer stated that he was accused of spot-fixing.

Also read: ‘Weapons seized from Uzair Baloch burnt in fire’, court told

The petitioner's counsel argued that he had only arranged a meeting of the players who had admitted spot-fixing. The fixers have been allowed to play but not the applicant, he contended.

The PCB's lawyer took the position that Kaneria had lost his cases everywhere in England.

The court questioned whether the England and Wales Cricket Board could ban the application.

The PCB lawyer said since there was an agreement between the boards, the England Cricket Board could impose a ban.

The court sought details of the cases of Amir, Asif Ali and Salman Butt for review.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2021.