Sulaiman Lashari murder trial: SHC asked to order suspension of SSP Abro

The victim’s father fears that the SSP would influence the investigations if he remains on duty.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the provincial chief secretary, the home secretary, the inspector-general of police and the training DIG on a petition seeking suspension of SSP Ghulam Sarwar Abro for allegedly influencing the investigation of Sulaiman Lashari’s murder case registered against his son, Salman Abro.

Headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, the bench also summoned an officer from the home department, not below the rank of deputy secretary, to answer the court’s queries on Wednesday (today).

Sulaiman, a student of O’ Levels, was shot dead on May 8 while he was studying at his house in Defence Housing Authority. Police claimed that the main accused, Salman Abro, had come to the victim’s house, along with five police constables, to settle an argument.

On Monday, the victim’s father, Sardar Ghulam Mustafa Lashari, had approached the high court to seek suspension of SSP Ghulam Sarwar Abro, the father of the main suspect, in order to ensure that the investigation was carried out transparently.

His lawyers, Muhammad Khan Buriro and Mubashar Mirza, said that the police investigation has suggested that Salman Abro had used official weapons to carry out the assault.

The petitioner apprehended that the investigation would not be carried out in a fair manner until the suspect’s father, who is currently serving in the police department as SSP of the Law Enforcement Instruction Center at Sakrand, remained in office.

He alleged that SSP Abro was influencing the investigation due to which he might not get justice for the murder of his young son. The court was pleaded to order the authorities to suspend SSP Abro till the murder trial was concluded.

After the preliminary hearing, the bench issued notices to the home secretary, police IG, Training and SSP Ghulam Sarwar Abro for May 21. The judges further ordered that an officer of the home department, not below the rank of deputy secretary, should appear in person to answer the court’s queries.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2014.