SHC orders arrest of suspects in Dr Parveen Rind case

CJ reprimands Nawabshah DIG, expresses displeasure over police report

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the DIG to arrest the suspects involved in the case of harassment and torture of Dr Parveen Rind at Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah) People's University of Medical Health Sciences and submit a progress report.

Chief Justice Sindh High Court, Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh heard the case in his chamber. Dr. Parveen Rind appeared barefoot with her uncle while DIG Benazirabad, SSP Nawabshah and Registrar People's Medical University also appeared. Deputy Commissioner Nawabshah did not appear in the court.

The SHC CJ expressed his displeasure over the police report. Nawabshah police failed to nab the main culprits in Dr Parveen Rind case. The chief justice reprimanded DIG Nawabshah, Khadim Rind.

The CJ remarked that the accused was roaming in public in Nawabshah and yet the police were conducting raids in Jamshoro. Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh questioned the DIG that it has been a week since you could not arrest a single accused.

The court sought a progress report from the police officials at the next hearing. The chief justice directed DIG Nawabshah to arrest the suspects without fail.

Haleem's plea rejected

The Sindh High Court has rejected the plea of Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh against provincial minister Saeed Ghani and others on charges of drug trafficking and patronage of criminals.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh and comprising Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed heard the petition.

Haleem's lawyer argued that Dr Rizwan, a former SSP, had exposed drug dealers and patrons in his report yet no action was taken on his report. The current provincial minister and his brother patronise drug dealers.

The chief justice remarked, "What is a drug peddler called in Urdu?"

"Manshiyat Farosh (drug dealer)," explained the counsel and added: "Following Dr Rizwan's report, a case was registered against a few but no action was taken. The whole world knows who is behind the drug trade."

The CJ inquired, "How does the whole world know?"

Sheikh's counsel argued that the provincial minister and his brother patronise drug dealers. "We wrote letters to the Sindh IGP, DIG, provincial agencies for action. We also wrote letters to the Sindh chief secretary and others but no action was taken," the counsel contended.

Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed remarked, "What did Haleem Adil Sheikh's party do? Is your own party not cooperating in this matter?"

Haleem's counsel argued that he had also written letters to the Federal Ministry of Interior, FIA and others but no action was taken. "Drugs are not just a problem of Chanesar Goth but it is the problem of the whole of Sindh. The future of the young generation is deteriorating due to drug trafficking in Sindh."

The court declared Haleem's petition inadmissible. The petition argued that there were serious allegations against Saeed Ghani and others. SSP Dr Rizwan's report had made shocking revelations against the provincial minister.

Ghani's alleged accomplice Hameedullah had also admitted the involvement of high-profile personalities in the video. In the light of the evidence, a high-level JIT should be formed to probe into the alleged patrons of Ghani and other criminals. SSP Dr. Rizwan's report had not been acted upon for three years.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2022.