Shahzeb murder case: CJ gives police 72 hours to arrest killers
Court criticises police, commends Express TV for revealing Shahrukh Jatoi’s escape.
The police did not alert authorities in a timely manner which allowed Shahrukh to flee, says Chief Justice. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/ THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE
ISLAMABAD:
Taking strict notice of absconders in the Shahzeb murder case, the Supreme Court on Monday warned senior officials of the Sindh police to arrest the accused, including the prime suspect Shahrukh Jatoi, within 72 hours or face the wrath of the court.
Accusing police officials of inaction in the high-profile murder case, the chief justice remarked, “The values of our society have surely collapsed.” He said that the murder inquiry was a test case for society, because 20-year-old Shahzeb, the son of a DSP, was murdered after being forced to apologise to the culprits who had harassed his sister in public.
“You (the police) have given space to the culprits and are still giving them space. Give us in writing that you have failed to arrest the culprits after 12 days of the gruesome murder,” said the chief justice while addressing Inspector General Police Fayaz Laghari.
Laghari had earlier submitted a report to the court on the arrest of Siraj Talpur and three other accused.
Taking police officials to task, the chief justice said that “the credit goes to the Express TV anchor who forced Shahrukh’s father, Sikander Jatoi, to reveal that the prime suspect had fled the country to Australia via Dubai.” He added that the police did not alert authorities in a timely manner which allowed Shahrukh to flee.
Justice Saeed asked police officials when the name of the accused was put on the Exit Control List (ECL). DIG South Shahid Hayat replied that the application was forwarded on December 27, however, the name was added to the ECL on January 2.
The court noted that the police took action after the accused had left the country and police officials were yet clueless about how the prime suspect had managed to board an outbound flight.
DIG Hayat informed the court that the consul general in Dubai had confirmed that Shahrukh Jataoi had reached the city under a fake identity while travelling on an Emirates flight. He added that there was no information about his departing UAE for Australia.
Justice Gulzar criticised the police for adopting rudimentary and outdated methods of investigation while criminals were employing modern techniques to evade arrest. Additional IG Sindh Bashir Memon said “I admit our failure and request more time to correct things. We are working day and night to arrest the killers,” he added.
The bench directed IGP Laghari to record statements of Sikander Jatoi and produce the accused at the next case hearing. The bench also rejected a request by IGP Laghari for another 15 days to ensure the arrest of the killers by noting that enough time had already been given to the police. The bench adjourned the hearing of the case till January 10.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.
Taking strict notice of absconders in the Shahzeb murder case, the Supreme Court on Monday warned senior officials of the Sindh police to arrest the accused, including the prime suspect Shahrukh Jatoi, within 72 hours or face the wrath of the court.
Accusing police officials of inaction in the high-profile murder case, the chief justice remarked, “The values of our society have surely collapsed.” He said that the murder inquiry was a test case for society, because 20-year-old Shahzeb, the son of a DSP, was murdered after being forced to apologise to the culprits who had harassed his sister in public.
“You (the police) have given space to the culprits and are still giving them space. Give us in writing that you have failed to arrest the culprits after 12 days of the gruesome murder,” said the chief justice while addressing Inspector General Police Fayaz Laghari.
Laghari had earlier submitted a report to the court on the arrest of Siraj Talpur and three other accused.
Taking police officials to task, the chief justice said that “the credit goes to the Express TV anchor who forced Shahrukh’s father, Sikander Jatoi, to reveal that the prime suspect had fled the country to Australia via Dubai.” He added that the police did not alert authorities in a timely manner which allowed Shahrukh to flee.
Justice Saeed asked police officials when the name of the accused was put on the Exit Control List (ECL). DIG South Shahid Hayat replied that the application was forwarded on December 27, however, the name was added to the ECL on January 2.
The court noted that the police took action after the accused had left the country and police officials were yet clueless about how the prime suspect had managed to board an outbound flight.
DIG Hayat informed the court that the consul general in Dubai had confirmed that Shahrukh Jataoi had reached the city under a fake identity while travelling on an Emirates flight. He added that there was no information about his departing UAE for Australia.
Justice Gulzar criticised the police for adopting rudimentary and outdated methods of investigation while criminals were employing modern techniques to evade arrest. Additional IG Sindh Bashir Memon said “I admit our failure and request more time to correct things. We are working day and night to arrest the killers,” he added.
The bench directed IGP Laghari to record statements of Sikander Jatoi and produce the accused at the next case hearing. The bench also rejected a request by IGP Laghari for another 15 days to ensure the arrest of the killers by noting that enough time had already been given to the police. The bench adjourned the hearing of the case till January 10.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.