Judges’ family seeks impartial probe

SHC judge declines to hear petition filed by family of a judge being interrogated for murder of his colleague’s son.

KARACHI: A Sindh High Court (SHC) judge, Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, declined to hear a petition filed by the family of a district and sessions judge being interrogated for the murder of his colleague’s son.

District and sessions judge of Mithi, Sikandar Lashari, was removed from the post early this month following the allegations of his involvement in the murder of another judge’s son.

Aqib Shahani, the son of Jacobabad district and sessions judge, Khalid Hussain Shahani, was shot dead in Hyderabad on February 19. Later, the victim’s family suspect Lashari’s involvement, saying their son had fallen in love with the suspended judge’s daughter.

On Thursday, Wahida Lashari, the wife of Sikandar Lashari, filed a petition with the high court, pleading to order interrogation of her husband by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) consisting of impartial officers.

She stated that current police officer Pir Jan Sarhandi is supervising the murder investigation, adding that her husband had earlier passed order against the officer, who might become partial in the process.

The matter came up for hearing before a bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M. Sheikh, who declined to hear the case.

The office was directed to place the matter before a bench of which Justice Sheikh is not a member.