Without permission: Policeman sent to jail for releasing ‘reckless’ bus driver

Wali Khan was booked for ‘unintentionally’ killing a woman

KARACHI: A civil judge remanded on Saturday a police officer to jail for releasing a bus driver without seeking the court's consent in a reckless driving case in which a woman lost her life.

The suspect, Wali Khan, who drove a passenger bus, was booked earlier in June for 'unintentionally' killing a woman in a road accident that occurred due to over-speeding in New Karachi He was apprehended by the commuters and other residents and was handed over to Madina Colony police. Subsequently, he was remanded by a West district court till July 5.

The court had directed the investigation officer of the case, SI Ghulam Hussain, to produce the suspect at the next hearing of the case but did not comply with the orders. When the court raised the matter, it was informed that the suspect was set free during interrogation. Judge Sadruddin Bohyo was annoyed that an under-trail prisoner was released without intimating the court.

The IO was summoned to court through the SHO as his non-bailable warrants were issued. After questioning the police officer over what legal formality he fulfilled before releasing the driver, the judge sent him to prison till July 13. Moreover, the jail authorities have been asked to produce the IO at the next hearing when legal proceedings against him are likely to initiate.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2015.