IO’s failure to submit progress report irks court

Court directed IO to submit report at the next hearing on March 24, extended bail until then

KARACHI:

The Malir court expressed annoyance on Saturday over the investigation officer's (IO's) failure to submit the progress report in a case, pertaining to rioting during an anti-encroachment drive, registered against opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh.

Haleem was presented before a judicial magistrate by the police at the hearing, where the court was irked when the IO was unable to produce a progress report.

The court directed the IO to submit the report at the next hearing on March 24 and extended Haleem's bail until then.

An FIR against Haleem was registered at Gadap City police station for rioting and blocking the Super Highway during a protest following a demolition drive in Malir, where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader's farmhouses were razed in February this year.

Approximately 70 farmhouses across five days and two sub-divisions were demolished during the drive, which sparked a clash between officials and Haleem and his supporters.

Later, an FIR against Haleem was registered at Memon Goth Police Station for attempting to impede the drive.

Following that, another case was registered at Gadap City Police Station.

Remanded

Separately, the court sent a man accused of blackmailing a minor girl and sharing obscene pictures on social media on a judicial remand.

The East judicial magistrate, who was hearing the case at Karachi City Court, also directed the IO to submit a progress report of the probe into case.

"It is a very sensitive case and a challan with complete evidence should be submitted," the judge said.

Federal Investigation Agency officials presented the accused, Owais, before the court at the hearing.

Separately, the Central judicial magistrate sent four of a family accused in a fraud case on a judicial remand and directed the investigation officer to submit the case challan at the next hearing.

The accused, Naeemur Rehman, his wife, Samina, and two sons, Ibadur Rehman and Tanzeelur Rehman, have been booked on charges of defrauding citizens under the guise of marriage.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2021.