The SHO, whose arrest embroiled DIG Sukkur and SSP Ghotki in a war of words and their consequent removal from their posts, was remanded to police custody for seven more days on Thursday.
The Anti Terrorism Court also directed the case's investigation officer to submit the probe's report in the court within seven days.
During the hearing SHO Abdul Shakoor Lakho's counsel argued that his client was present in the SSP's office at the time of attack on former MPA Shaharyar Khan Shar on October 14 in Raunti area. Although the ex-MPA survived unscathed, two persons allegedly accompanying him were killed.
One of them, Umar Shar, carried a head money and was wanted by the police. Shar later denied that Umar was travelling with him. He claimed that Umar was killed in a separate attack near the same place where he was attacked.
Meanwhile, Lakho was produced before the judge under high security in an armoured personnel carrier.
His custody has already been handed over to Sukkur district police who are also investigating the FIR of assault on the ex-MPA. The FIR was lodged on complaint of Mumtaz Ali Shar, brother of slain Ali Muhammad Shar who was a friend of the former MPA.
In reaction to the incident, SSP Ghotki Hafeezur Rehman Bugti directed his subordinate cops to round up the SHO and register an FIR on the complaint of Mumtaz. The DIG Sukkur Peer Muhammad Shah reacted with writing a letter to IGP Sindh, suggesting that Bugti is conniving with a wanted dacoit like Umar Shar and by doing so he is demoralizing the police.
The SSP, on the other hand, alleged that SHO Lakho has kept patronizing gangs of bandits for many years and that one of such gangs of Seelro community had assaulted the ex-MPA with active support of Lakho. He went on to blame DIG Hyderabad Tariq Razzak Dharejo and DIG Sukkur for pressurizing him to spare the SHO.
Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar
The ATC Mirpurkhas district on Thursday extended bail of former SSP Umerkot Asif Raza Baloch, Pir Umar Jan Sarhindi, ex In Charge CIA Inayat Zardari, ex-SHO Sindhri police station Niaz Khoso and ex In Charge DIB Sub Inspector Danish Bhatti till November 7. However, the same court sent to jail former CIA In Charge Hidayatullah Narejo, police constables Ghulam Qadir, Farman and Nadir Ali to judicial custody till the next hearing on November 7.
They all are booked in the FIR of fake encounter of Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar, a blasphemy accused, and desecration of his body. Advocate Asghar Narejo, who is representing the slain doctor's brother in law Muhammad Ibrahim Kumbar, told the media outside the court that he pleaded with the court to cancel the interim bail of all accused persons.
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