SHC transfers ‘robber cops’ case probe to east dist

In a major development in the case of robbery at a businessman’s house by police officers, the Sindh High Court approved the transfer of investigation from south district to east police.

Defence counsel for under training DSP Bajari argued before a two-member Sindh High Court bench that the investigation officer, Pirabad police station SHO was himself involved in the robbery, therefore, investigation should be handed over to another team.

However, as per the scrutiny note issued from the office of the district public prosecutor, district west, the entire idea and design was given by SSP Imran Qureshi who received information from the federal agency and his official vehicle REVO was used in the raid on his directives, as such he cannot be absolved from the liability therefore the investigating officer is required to carefully examine the case from this aspect.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto heard the plea to transfer the investigation of DSP Umair Tariq Bajari, who was arrested in the case of robbing a businessman’s house in Orangi Town. DIG Investigation said that the challan of the case has been submitted. If the accused wants to change the investigating officer, he should submit the application.

Justice Amjad Ali Sahito remarked that they have called you not to give advice but to tell the details of the case.

DIG said that an interim challan of the case has been submitted. The public prosecutor stated that the case of the accused DSP should be transferred to the east district if he has any objection to the investigation by the west and south districts.

The petitioner’s counsel, public prosecutor and DIG Investigation Karachi agreed to transfer the investigation to another district. Subsequently, the court transferred the investigation against DSP Umair Tariq Bajari from south district to east.

Read Under training DSP ‘involved’ in robbery

Meanwhile, the Additional District and Sessions Judge West granted bail to DSP Umair Tariq Bajari in the case. Amir Mansoob Advocate, the lawyer of the accused, stated that the alleged raid on the businessman’s house was conducted on the orders of former SSP south. After hearing the stand, the court granted bail to the accused Umair Tariq and ordered him to submit a bond of Ra100,000.

Illegal immigrants

The same bench heard the petition of Sheema Kermani and other civil society members against the eviction of Afghan immigrants. Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto said the decision to send back Afghan refugees is a matter of state policy. How can the court interfere in policy matters?

Municipality tax collection

The Sindh High Court has sought further arguments from both parties at the upcoming hearing on the petition of Jamaat-e-Islami, Karachi Ameer Naeem-ur-Rehman against collection of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) municipal utility charges and taxes (MUCT) through K Electric (K-E) bills. A two-member bench headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar heard the petition. Jamaat-e-Islami lawyer Usman Farooq Advocate, Judicial Assistant Munir A Malik and Mayor Murtaza Wahab appeared before the court.

Wahab said that under Article 100, KMC can take charges through the electricity bills which will help the KMC to recover around Rs4 billion which will be spent for the development of Karachi. Wahab said that this issue is being raised for political gains and not for public interest.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2023.