Police granted more time to submit report on May 12 cases

SHC seeks death certificate of petitioner wanting reinvestigation of 65 cases

KARACHI:

A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice KK Agha sought on Monday the death certificate of Syed Iqbal Kazmi, the petitioner seeking reinvestigation of 65 cases pertaining to the riots and violence in Karachi on May 12, 2007.

The public prosecutor informed the court that the petitioner has passed away. At this, the bench sought the petitioner's death certificate from the relevant SHO. Granting Karachi Additional IGP Imran Yaqoob Minhas an extension to submit the police's progress report, the bench adjourned the hearing till October 4.

The SHC has earlier directed the Sindh home department to reopen all the cases and has sought progress reports on A-Class cases. Besides, the court has ordered payment of compensation money to the families of those killed.

Bail pleas

Another bench comprising Justice Nadeem Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro directed the counsels to prepare arguments on the bail pleas of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and others accused in a reference pertaining to assets beyond means and misuse of authority.

The petitioner's counsel stated that the reference is being heard before the trial court and asked for the hearing to be adjourned. Directing the counsels to appear before the court at the next hearing with their arguments prepared, the bench adjourned the hearing till September 20.

A special bench, constituted on the directives of the Supreme Court, had broken after the elevation of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar to the apex court. NAB had approached the top court after the high court granted bail to the accused. The apex court had quashed the SHC's decision and directed a fresh hearing of the case.

Absent IO

Meanwhile, a two-member bench comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Irshad Ali Shah directed the National Accountability Bureau's investigation officer (IO) to ensure his presence at the next hearing of former Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) managing director Roshan Ali Kanasro's blea in the graft reference against him.

The court expressed annoyance at the federal antigraft watchdog when its lawyer informed the bench that the IO has been transferred to Multan. The bench remarked that case proceedings could not be halted due to transfers of officers and directed NAB to ensure the IO appears before the court at the next hearing.

The anti-graft watchdog has contended that The federal anti-graft watchdog has accused Roshan Ali Kanasro of causing a loss of more than Rs48.5 million to the national exchequer. Kanasro was arrested after his bail plea was rejected by the Supreme Court.