Explanation sought over Burnes Road closure for traffic

Court orders constitution of new JIT in missing persons case

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court sought on Tuesday an explanation from the South deputy commissioner (DC) and traffic DIG over the closure of Burnes Road for traffic in the evening and at night.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, was hearing a plea pertaining to the closure of the street.

The court inquired about the timings for the closure of the Burnes Road, at which the traffic DIG informed the court that the street was closed for traffic from 7pm to 2.30am.

"Where will residents park their vehicles and what will they do in cases of emergency [during the stated time]?" questioned Justice Mazhar.

The court directed the South DC and the traffic police DIG to give an explanation on the matter on March 25.

Read: Authorities told to issue timeline for opening roads

Missing persons case

Separately, a two-member bench, comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto and Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho, directed the police to constitute a new joint investigation team (JIT) on a missing persons case.

Hearing a plea seeking the recovery of two missing brothers, Maaz and Ahmed, the court expressed annoyance at the relevant JIT head and police officials over their failure to recover the missing men.

"No progress has been made either by the police or the JIT over the years," Justice Phulpoto stated while addressing SSP Abid Qaimkhani.

Moreover, the police informed the court that Maaz and Ahmed went missing from Korangi and investigations to identify persons involved in their disappearance were underway.

The mother of the two missing men told the court that her sons had been missing for the past seven years.

"I haven't been able to do anything for my sons during all these years and I don't know whether I will ever be able to meet them in my lifetime," she bewailed.

Justice Phulpoto assured the woman that all possible efforts would be made for the recovery of her sons.

The court directed the relevant authorities to submit a report on April 12 after recovering Maaz and Ahmed.

Also read: SHC disposes of contempt plea over PSL road closures

Plea bargains

Meanwhile, the bench comprising Justice Mazhar and Justice Sahito issued notices to the parties in a plea filed by government officials who entered plea bargains with the National Accountability Bureau, challenging the action taken against them.

The counsel for the petitioner, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Kanwar Naveed Jameel, did not appear before the court.

"Advocate Salman Mujahid is not present and hence no order will be issued," the court stated.

Advocate MM Aqil maintained that the proceedings of a similar case were underway in the Supreme Court and hence, the SHC could not hear the plea.

Two courts cannot hear cases of similar nature simultaneously, he contended.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2021.