Safoora bus attack: Prison officer fails to submit medical report of two suspects, ATC issues notice

Court allows B-class facilities to the govt officials detained

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court issued on Wednesday a show-cause notice to the chief medical officer of Karachi Central Jail after he failed to submit health reports of two suspects detained in connection with the Safoora bus attack case.

The court also allowed B-class, which means better facilities in prison, for Fishermen Cooperative Society's vice-chairperson Sultan Qamar Siddiqi and his brother Hussain Qamar Siddiqi after approving their applications. Both have been held for allegedly providing finances and logistical support to the militants who massacred 45 people belonging to the Ismaili community in May this year.

According to the investigators, at least 15 assailants, split into two teams, were involved in the attack. Some of the gunmen boarded the victims' bus near their community-only residential complex in Safoora Goth area and opened indiscriminate fire. While other attackers stayed behind as backup.

The Siddiqi brothers, through their counsels, had moved applications for their bail, medical treatment at a private hospital and better facilities in prison. The suspects contended that their health was deteriorating in prison due to a lack of proper accommodation and medical facilities.

They requested for B-class in prison and directions for treatment at a private hospital. Moreover, they pleaded for bail as well. The ATC-VI judge had issued a notice to the jail's chief medical officer to submit his report of the health of the two applicants. The medical officer, on the other hand, neither appeared nor submitted any report.  The judge issued a show-cause notice to the medical officer, asking him to submit in writing the reason for his absence. Meanwhile, the court approved the B-class application.

Special prosecutor still missing

Since the bail matter was also under consideration, the court on a previous hearing had asked about the status of special public prosecutors tasked the case. The investigating officer told the judge that the authorities have yet to appoint any special public prosecutor in the case.  Two special public prosecutors appointed to pursue the case on behalf of the state had dissociated themselves due to security reasons. The next hearing is scheduled for November 17.

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