Parween Rahman murder case: SC gives one month to conclude investigations

A plea filed by 12 petitioners called for a judicial commission to probe the case.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has accepted the plea submitted by the Karachi West district and sessions judge, Ghulam Mustafa Memon, seeking one month’s time to conclude the investigations into the murder of social activist and former director of the Orangi Pilot Project, Parween Rahman.

Earlier on February 3, the apex court had ordered the judge to probe the murder case and submit a report within 15 days. The inquiry, however, could not be completed. Judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon, therefore, sought one month’s time to conclude the probe.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, heard the petition on Tuesday. The plea was filed by 12 petitioners, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and members of civil society groups, requesting to constitute a judicial commission to probe Rehman’s murder.

On March 13, 2013, Rahman, the director of the Orangi Pilot Project in Karachi, was shot dead while being driven home.

According to a petition signed by over 8,000 people from across the world, including professionals working for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and UN agencies, Rahman was the voice of the marginalised community which had been under threat of eviction. The society not only lost a brave social worker and activist, but also a teacher who had nurtured many minds.

The petition also pointed out that Rahman’s case was a classic example of the high handedness, negligence and failure of the law enforcement agencies in Karachi, which had not only failed to protect the life, liberty and property of its citizens, but also failed to investigate the murder of an internationally renowned social worker.

During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel, Kamran Raheen Sheikh, expressed satisfaction over the manner in which the inquiry was being conducted by the learned judge so far.

On the other hand, Karachi West DIG Javed Odho submitted a report regarding the provision of security to other officials of the Orangi Pilot Project, who were facing life threats. DIG Odho also told the bench that they were giving full security to the petitioners as well as witnesses in the current case.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2014.