Plea approved: Zulfiqar Mirza’s bail extended until 30th

Police chief issued notice over defying court orders

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has extended bail of former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza and 46 of his associates until May 30 in three cases of rioting, looting, attempted murder and attacking police officials that were registered against them earlier this month at a police station in Badin.

Mirza’s principal counsel Ashraf Samoo filed a plea before ATC-I special judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso to extend his client’s bail. “My client is facing life threats from different quarters. Even some law enforcers are trying to harass him on the orders of the provincial government.”

Special public prosecutor Muhammad Khan Burero opposed the request of bail extension, arguing that the accused should be arrested because he had challenged the writ of the state. “He is not cooperating with the investigators at all. The last time he was summoned at the Darakhshan police station, he went there with dozens of men and harassed the law enforcers.”

The judge approved Mirza’s bail extension plea. The ATC, however, adjourned the matter of transferring his cases to a regular court until May 25.

Mirza remained in the courtroom until sunset for fear that he would be arrested as soon as he stepped out. Taking notice of the police’s conduct, an SHC bench issued notices to the police chief and the DIG South to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for defying the court’s orders of not taking any illegal action against Mirza.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2015.