Court call: Jailer gets seven days to report on Ajmal Pahari

Sindh High Court gives the directions on a plea filed by the prisoner’s wife.

KARACHI:

The Karachi central prison superintendent has seven days to disclose the whereabouts of Muhammad Ajmal Siddiqui, better known in the city as Ajmal Pahari, the alleged killer of over 100 people.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) gave the directions on a plea filed by the prisoner’s wife, who has gone to the court over the disappearance of Ajmal after his release from jail.

The suspect, arrested on March 18, 2011, was booked in 15 different cases, including murder and kidnappings. Courts acquitted him in 11 cases and in the remaining four, he was granted bail but he was kept at the central prison under Maintenance of Public Order.

Ajmal was released from prison on January 18 but did not reach home, the petitioner submitted through her lawyer, Farooq Ahmed.

“I have come to know that Ajmal was given in custody of SSP Farooq Awan and his life is in danger,” she stated.

The applicant appealed to the court to call replies from the Sindh home department, the police chief and the prison authorities to confirm the whereabouts of her husband. The bench, headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, issued notices to the home secretary, inspector general of police and the central prison superintendent. The hearing was then adjourned.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2013.