Declared fugitive gets hero’s welcome

It is not often that a declared fugitive is celebrated on return, but Pakistan Peoples Party Member National Assembly (MNA) Jam Abdul Karim got a hero's welcome after landing in Karachi. Nominated in the Nazim Jokhio murder case, he returned to the country from Dubai on Thursday after being pardoned by Jokhio's wife.

Being an MNA, he was dearly needed to vote in the no-confidence motion submitted in the National Assembly against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Jam was received by Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Sheikh as well as PPP leaders Sohail Sial and Shabir Bijarani at the Jinnah International Terminal in Karachi.

Sources said that National Assembly member Jam Abdul Karim was handed over to Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur by FIA officials after the immigration process.

When contacted, Irfan Bahadur said that Jam Abdul Karim is on protective bail until April 3, so the police did not arrest him and he left with the people who arrived at the airport to receive him.

In a recent development, Shireen Jokhio, the widow of slain Nazim Jokhio, issued a video statement in which she has pardoned all the accused allegedly involved in her husband's murder. She took the action for, in her own words, "the safety of my children".

She has filed an affidavit withdrawing the names of MNA Jam Abdul Karim and MPA Jam Awais from the case.

Official protocol

MNA Jam Abdul Karim got an official protocol from the airport to the court. Sindh Government Spokesperson Barrister Murtaza Wahab drove him to the Sindh High Court (SHC) in an official car.

Prosecutors gave Jam Abdul Karim an ajrak and a Sindhi topi. Official lawyers also had pictures taken with the MNA.

The lawmaker was at SHC to apply for bail before arrest which he was granted against surety bonds worth Rs100,000.

It may be recalled that MNA Jam Abdul Karim had fled to Dubai after the Nazim Jokhio murder case was registered against him and he was declared a fugitive by the court.

However, after the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan was filed in the National Assembly, he had approached the Sindh High Court to secure protective bail. In the meantime, the Sindh home secretary sent a letter to the Sindh IG to replace the investigating officer in the murder case.

Sources said that the letter was written on the suggestion of the Sindh prosecutor general. Subsequently, the investigation officer was changed to benefit the accused.

Sources also claimed that the letter was written at the behest of influential people running the Sindh government.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2022.