SBP response sought on Raza's bank trail by Oct 1

Commission summons health officials, others; seeks written replies from senior police officers

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has sought the State Bank of Pakistan's response by October 1 on a plea seeking access to Mir Raza's bank accounts and transaction records, as investigators seek to establish where money moved and identify the accounts and individuals involved.

During the hearing, investigators told the court that they wanted to trace the flow of money but did not know how many accounts Mir Raza had or which banks held them. They said they had approached the State Bank because its officials required a court order before providing the information.

The court asked why the investigators wanted the transaction records. The government lawyer said the investigators sought details of Mir Raza's accounts and transactions to determine how many accounts he maintained and where money had moved, adding that the information could assist the investigation.

The court subsequently sought the State Bank's response by October 1.

The judicial commission has summoned Director General Health Sindh Pervez Ahmed Sheikh, Dr Usama Sheikh, Ali Shah, Kazim and Umer for its September 21 proceedings.

The commission, headed by Justice Umar Sial, also decided to seek written responses from Additional IG Karachi Azad Khan and DIG Amir Farooqi instead of summoning the senior police officers in person.

The commission said it wanted to question the two senior officers but decided to send written questions while taking their official stature into consideration. Advocate Tajammal Lodhi will deliver the questions and receive their sealed responses.

The officers have been directed to submit their replies by Thursday, which the commission said would also be made available to the public.

The panel recorded the statement of investigating officer Shabbir Laghari and heard the position of Ahmed Bharde. Bharde sought time to meet Mir Raza's family before making any further statement. The commission said he could submit an additional position through an affidavit, which would also be made public.

The commission also decided to record Dr Usama Sheikh's statement again. He had conducted Mir Raza's first post-mortem.

Sealed daily diaries from Ferozabad and Gulistan-e-Jauhar police stations were received by the commission but returned to the Sindh government's focal person as statements of the relevant witnesses had already been recorded.

The commission noted that it was facing time constraints in completing its proceedings within the prescribed period and allowed Mir Raza's family to submit questions concerning the two senior police officers by September 21. Those questions will also be forwarded to the officers.