Police told to name officer behind court siege

Karachi
The Sindh High Court ordered the provincial and Karachi police chiefs on Monday to disclose the name of the officer who had directed policemen to lay siege to its building and that of the anti-terrorism courts to arrest former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and his supporters.
The court took exception to IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali’s reluctance to disclose the name of the police official who had authorised the operation and also those who had participated in it.
It observed that if the police chief did not disclose their names, the court would have no other option but to take action against him and additional IGP Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo too.
Hearing Mirza’s petition against police denying him access to an anti-terrorism court by laying siege to its building, the SHC observed that the act not only appeared to be an attempt to “obstruct the course of justice” but also to “lower the process and dignity” of the court.
The court observed that the reluctance of the IGP, the additional IGP Karachi and the DIG and the SSP of the South zone to reveal the names of the police officials who participated in the operation was also “contumacious”.
On May 23, the SHC had taken notice of the siege and directed the chief secretary, the home secretary and the IGP and others to give an explanation for it.
Mirza, a former home minister and an estranged Pakistan People’s Party leader, had submitted in an application that police had denied him access to an anti-terrorism court where he was scheduled to appear for extending his pre-arrest bail in a case registered with the Darakshan police station.
Chief secretary Mohammad Siddique Memon and home secretary Mukhtar Memon appeared before the court and submitted that the provincial government held the dignity and sanctity of the court in high regard.
They said there were no directives from the provincial government to either cordon off the court buildings or defend the transgressors who were involved in the incident.
The court directed the two secretaries to file a report explaining as to who had ordered the cordoning off of the court buildings and who had authorised policemen in civvies with their faces concealed to participate in such an operation. The court also told them to tell the court as to what action had the government taken against the officers who had laid the siege and also roughed up reporters and cameramen covering the event there.
To a court’s query, the IGP said criminals with latest weapons had tried to barge into the high court and the sole intent of police was to stop them so that any untoward incident could be prevented
However, he added, he could not disclose, even though it was a lawful operation, as to on whose orders had it been carried out.
The SHC observed that it was on record that on May 23 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm, the court made every possible effort to contact the chief secretary, the home secretary, the IGP and the DIG South but none of them was available to appear before it.
In fact, a court officer was directed to procure the attendance of the police in-charge who had cordoned off the court building but nobody turned up.
The court questioned as to even if the IGP’s explanation was accepted that high-profile criminals with latest weapons had tried to barge into the high court premises and were arrested at its gate – and that too without a shootout - then why did the IGP, the additional IGP Karachi, the DIG South and the SSP South had avoided the SHC registrar’s calls instead of taking him into confidence.
“This behaviour of police officers leads us to believe that the entire operation was conducted under the command of the IGP, the additional IGP Karachi and the DIG and the SSP of the South zone,” noted Justice Sajjad Ali Shah who was heading the SHC division bench nearing the case.
The court issued show-cause notices to the IGP, the additional IGP Karachi and the DIG and the SSP of the South zone, directing them to explain as to why the court should not take action against them.
The police chief and others were directed to file their affidavits providing the details of every officer who participated in the operation. They were also directed to disclose the name of the officer who had authorised the operation. The SHC warned the provincial and Karachi police chiefs that in case of failure to do so, the court would be left with no other option but to take action against them.
Salahuddin Ahmed, the counsel for the media personnel who were thrashed outside the court that day, said his clients also wanted to join the proceedings and assist the court by pointing out the officers who roughed them up.
The court observed that the counsel could assist the court by providing footage of the incident that could help identify the policemen who had participated in the operation.
The SHC also directed Rangers to continue providing security to Mirza until further orders and adjourned the hearing of the case till May 26.