Sindh

Petition filed to conduct trial at special ATC

Sindh High Court puts Anti-Terrorism Court administrator, suspects on notice

Our Correspondent June 17, 2022

Nazim Jokhio's tortured body was found in Memon Goth, a day after he filmed a group of foreigners hunting the endangered houbara bustard in the area. SCREENGRAB

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the suspects and the Administrator of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on a petition seeking Nazim Jokhio's murder trial in a special anti-terrorism court.

The petitioner, a witness of the Nazim Jokhio case, Mazhar Junejo Advocate, stated that the Special Anti-Terrorism Court had ordered transfer of the case to the Sessions Court.

The Special Anti-Terrorism Court ignored the facts, Advocate Junejo said, adding that there was a miscarriage of justice in the case where complainants colluded with the suspects.

Nazim Jokhio was tortured to death for making mobile phone video of foreign guests of local landlords hunting the Houbara bustards.

As per Advocate Junejo, the brutal killing of a local community activist by powerful landlords spread fear and panic.

He said the suspects are members of the provincial and national assembly and are very influential. The murder case of Nazim Jokhio should be transferred back to the special anti-terrorism court and terrorism provisions may be added to the case again, the petitioner said.

Moreover, the petitioner said that although the heirs of the deceased have withdrawn the names of PPP MNA Jam Abdul Karim and his younger brother MPA Jam Owais from the complaint, they should be named as suspects.

The petitioner said that Jokhio's brother and widow had withdrawn the names of powerful suspects under duress.

The court issued notices to all the suspects and the administrator of the anti-terrorism court.

Treatment for convict

An SHC bench heard a petition against a two-year delay in the treatment of spine of a convict serving life sentence.

The petitioner's counsel stated that Muhammad Khalid Rao was accused of a cracker attack on Gulistan-e-Jauhar police station in 2002. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 2019, the suspect suffered a spinal cord injury. Doctors advised immediate surgery and treatment. The suspect was shifted from Sukkur to Karachi. Two years have passed, treatment is not being started. The court issued notices to the Home Secretary, IG Prisons, Superintendent Central Jail and sought their replies.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2022.