In a shocking development, the names of primary influential suspects — including PPP MPA Jam Awais and his brother, MNA Jam Abdul Karim — have been struck off from the challan of the Nazim Jokhio case, sources said on Wednesday.
The unexplained removal of the names came to light when the investigation officer in the case, Siraj Lashari, submitted the challan before the judge of the anti-terrorism court, revealing that now the case only nominated Haider, Mairaj and Niaz as those accused.
Two days ago, the Sindh High Court had extended the bail of Jam Abdul Karim, a key suspect in the Nazim Jokhio murder case, till April 14.
The counsel of Karim had submitted a plea in the court for his client's exemption from appearance.
The deceased's family has alleged that PPP leaders and their henchmen tortured the victim to death as he filmed their guests hunting the endangered houbara bustards.
Moreover, the case took a twist when the widow of slain Nazim Jokhio gave in to the pressure of the powerful feudal family, saying that she was pardoning all suspects accused of her husband’s murder.
In a video message, Shireen Jokhio said she wanted to fight but had been left “all alone by her own people” adding that she had taken the decision to pardon out of compulsion and for the safety of her children.
Also read: SHC extends Jam Abdul Karim’s bail
It is pertinent to mention here that the former federal government in January said it would fight the case if the family agreed to a "compromise" with the suspect.
Mockery of law’
The unexplained absence of the names of suspects from the challan has caused outrage as activists say the brazen attempts at protecting the political party’s members help explain how the scales are tilted in favour of the influential feudal culprit.
They deplored how the edifice of law enforcement, hobbled by the feudal influences, falls short of delivering just which, they added, was evident from the fact that even the police has decided it is too perilous to openly challenge the culprits.
“Injustice with the family of journalist Nazim Jokhio. Name of the main suspect a PPP MNA has been removed from the final murder challan. Shame on Sindh police and Sindh government. Journalist bodies should stand with the widow,” leading journalist Mazhar Abbas tweeted.
Case background
Nazim Jokhio, 27, was found murdered at a Malir farmhouse of Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Jam Awais in November 2021. The MPA, his MNA brother Jam Abdul Karim and others have been booked for allegedly torturing Jokhio to death after he stopped their foreign guests from hunting houbara bustard.
Police have named the detained MPA and four others as accused in a charge sheet and shown the MNA as an absconding suspect in the case.
Last week, the Sindh High Court granted10-day protective bail to MNA Karim, who fled to Dubai, against a solvent surety of Rs100,000. The politician was directed to surrender before the trial before or till April 3.
The protective bail will help the MNA to return to the country and take part in the voting on a no-confidence motion tabled by the joint opposition in the National Assembly against the prime minister.
1719660634-1/BeFunky-collage-nicole-(1)1719660634-1-165x106.webp "article")
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ