SHC orders arrest of Uzair Baloch, proclaimed offenders after fingerprint verification

Sindh IGP tells court that a special squad consisting 100 policemen has been formed to arrest the defunct PAC chief.

KARACHI: Sindh High Court Chief Justice Mushir Alam ordered the police and other relevant departments to block the computerised national identity cards (CNICs) of those accused, including defunct Peoples Aman Committee's chief Uzair Jan Baloch, who are absconding and have been declared as proclaimed offenders, even as the provincial police chief claimed that a strong police contingent had been tasked to arrest him.

Chief Justice Alam while reviewing a report filed by Sindh Inspector General of Police Shahid Nadeem Baloch over the police's failure to apprehend Uzair in the murder of alleged gangster Arshad Pappu, directed that all those who had been declared proclaimed offenders be arrested after verification of their thumb impressions through National Database and Registration Authority.

Uzair had been declared a proclaimed offender by an Anti-Terror Court on July 23, 2013 after the police admitted their failure in arresting him.

Coincidently, the Karachi City Alliance (formerly the Peoples Amn Committee) hosted a well-attended iftar for journalists that very evening.

Chief Justice Alam took note of this on July 25, 2013 and had directed the IG Sindh to file a report on the police's continued inablity to catch a proclaimed offender who was moving freely in public.

The police had subsequently raided Uzair's house in Lyari on July 27, 2013, but with little luck.

More promises

On Wednesday, August 7, 2013, almost a fortnight after being directed to submit a report, the Sindh IGP furnished his findings before the Sindh High Court.

IGP Baloch in his report stated that the Chakiwara police station's SHO had been suspended over his negligence in performing his duties and arresting Uzair. Additionally the SSP South has been issued show-cause notice for not arresting Uzair.

"A 100 strong special squad has been formed to arrest Uzair Baloch," the IGP told the court, adding that other efforts were underway to apprehend the proclaimed offender.

CJ Alam subsequently sought details of all the absconders and proclaimed offenders across the province. He also called for details of the cases in which these offenders had been nominated.

The court directed that the CNICs of all absconding accused and proclaimed offenders should be blocked and their arrest be made after thumb impression verification.