Notices issued on plea for Dr Aamir’s autopsy

Aamir's daughter, third wife's counsel and prosecutor general get court notices

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the daughter of the late Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain and the Prosecutor General of Sindh on a petition seeking a post-mortem examination of the TV anchor and MNA who died at his home in June.

The notices were issued by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar-led bench on the petition filed by Abdul Ahad Khan Advocate. The petitioner informed the court that he was approaching the court as a common citizen.

Justice Panhwar asked the petitioner: "You are not among the legal heirs [of the deceased], then how can you approach the court [in this matter? Will you also move the court in getting the autopsy of any other person conducted? What is your relationship with Aamir Liaquat?"

The petitioner stated that there were judgments of SHC in relevant matters. "The sessions court rejected the request for a post-mortem examination of Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain's body although a judicial magistrate had ordered it. The SHO had also recommended an autopsy," he argued.

Justice Panhwar asked the petitioner for references of the judgments he quoted. "If the court is satisfied, then it will issue notices to the parties. The authority to conduct post-mortem rests with the magistrate," the judge observed and asked the petitioner if there was a case registered for Aamir Liaquat's death.

The petitioner said that no case has been registered as of now, but absence of the cause of death in Aamir Liaquat's medical report has created doubts about his death.

The mother of Aamir Liaquat's third wife, Dania Malik, was also present in the courtroom during the hearing.

The court issued notices to Aamir Liaquat's daughter and the Prosecutor General Sindh for August 29. Dania Malik's counsel also received the notice. The court summoned SHO Brigade police station in his personal capacity.

Inquiry against Babar Ghori

A two-member bench, headed by Justice KK Agha, took up another petition related to the ongoing secret inquiries and investigations against MQM leader Babar Ghori. Justice KK Agha inquired about the whereabouts of the petitioner.

The counsel for the petitioner, Shabbir Shah Advocate, told the court that his client was in Dubai. The court remarked that Ghori should have appeared in person. Advocate Shah took the stance that Ghori was arrested when he reached Karachi Airport and after three days of his arrest, the police declared him innocent.

The court remarked: "What do you want from this court now?" Advocate Shah contended that details of any ongoing secret investigation against Ghori should be sought. At this, the court sought a report from the federal and provincial governments containing full details of the ongoing secret inquiries and investigations against the petitioner. The court ordered the parties to submit written responses by October 4.

Ghori has secured a protective bail from the SHC in the NAB reference and money laundering case. He was arrested on July 7 at the Karachi Airport on his return from abroad. Following his arrest, a contempt of court petition was filed against the police for violating the court orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2022.