TRG directors told to furnish sureties

SHC directs applicants to approach trial court for exemption from appearance

KARACHI:

The Resource Group (TRG) International Limited directors and senior management filed Criminal Revisions in Sindh High Court for quashing of a criminal defamation proceedings brought against them by former TRG Group CEO Muhammad Ziaullah Chishti. The complaints were heard by a Single Bench of the SHC comprising of Justice Muhammad Saleem Jesser.

Earlier on 20 February 2023, a district and sessions judge had taken cognisance on the criminal defamation complaint filed against Mohammed Khaishgi, Hasnain Aslam, John Leone, Patrick McGinnis, Patrick Costello, Hassan Farooq, Waleed Tariq Saigol, Zafar Iqbal Sobani and Khaldoon Bin Latif. The Judge ordered the issuance of bailable warrants for the accused persons.

In the proceedings on Wednesday at the SHC, counsels for the respondents, Abid Zuberi and Mohsin Tayebaly advocates, requested the SHC to suspend the proceedings pending before the trial court. They further requested that the SHC order for exemption for appearance of accused persons before the trial court may be passed.

Muhammad Ziaullah Chishti’s, counsel argued that high court did not have the power to suspend the proceedings of the trial court and only the trial court had the power to exempt the accused from attending the trial proceedings.

After hearing both the arguments, SHC ordered that the respondents should submit sureties before the trial court and thereafter they can file exemption applications for personal appearance from the proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2023.