SHC siege: Verify authenticity of CM’s letter ordering inquiry, court tells AG

Advocate general asked to verify the letter detailing action against the police officers

KARACHI: Sindh High Court on  Thursday ordered the provincial advocate-general to verify the 'authenticity' of a letter purportedly sent to court by the province's chief minister for an inquiry against officers who had besieged the court premises on May 23.

On May 23, journalists and guards of former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza were beaten up by masked men who reportedly belonged to the police.

An SHC division bench, headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, passed the direction following a petition filed by the estranged Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader seeking protection and subsequent proceedings for contempt against Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, Karachi AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo, South DIG and others.

At the outset of proceedings, the bench was given a letter detailing action against police officers over the incident of besieging court buildings and torturing media personnel and others on May 23.

Read: High court siege: ‘CM’s report an attempt to hoodwink court’

The letter, addressed by the chief minister’s inspection, inquiries and implementation team, was addressed to the additional home secretary and dated June 2.

The superintendent-II (inquiries) Syed Gohar Aleem stated in the letter that the Sindh government had constituted an inquiry committee to look into the incident that took place outside the SHC and present a report to the CM within 10 days.

The committee will fix the responsibility and give recommendations to ensure the sanctity of the court.

The officer said that the home department had been asked provide a detailed account of the incident that occurred in and around the SHC building and the standard operating procedures to maintain the sanctity of the high court, the security contingency plan of the day of the incident in and around the court building.

He said details had also been sought on any inquiry into the incident, which was ordered by the Sindh government or any other authority or the courts.

The home department was also asked to provide recordings of print and electronic media, including video and CCTV footage, of the incident and the lists containing complete particulars of the witnesses and evidences relating to the incident.

Read: High court ‘siege’: SHC tells CM to take action against IG Jamali

Details about the authority or officers responsible for command and control of the police force deployed on the day of the incident and mode of communication of directions to them was also sought.

The details about the persons or property adversely affected during the incident within the court premises are also called, it added.

Letter’s authenticity

The two-judges, however, questioned the authenticity of the letter purportedly filed on behalf the chief minister. Advocate-general Abdul Fateh Malik appeared unaware about the document in question.

Halting proceedings for an hour, the judges directed him to get the letter’s authenticity verified. Appearing after the break, AG Malik said there were other law officers associated with the AG Office, who were looking after the case, who may have filed the letter to the court.

He requested for more time to verify the letter and also submit the report on the findings of the inquiry committee. Justice Sajjad Ali Shah remarked that the chief minister may take action against the officers.

Addressing the advocate-general, the bench members questioned that what if the court passes orders to register a case against the police officers today.

Adjourning the hearing till Monday, the bench members directed him to inform the court whether the letter was addressed by the CM or someone else.