Amir Khan summoned by SHC as Rangers challenge bail

Karachi
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday summoned senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Amir Khan on December 21 over a Rangers application challenging his bail, sanctioned by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in a case pertaining to facilitation of criminals.
Khan, arrested during the March 11 raid at Nine Zero, was sent on a 90-day detention in the custody of Rangers along with other suspects apprehended in the raid.
The paramilitary force had alleged that the MQM leader and others arrested with him, had admitted providing shelter to criminals and convicts, and using them for unlawful activities in the city.
The ATC, had on June 29, granted bail to him in the case. Aggrieved with the ATC’s order, Rangers DSR Mohammad Riaz submitted in the application that the trial court had ordered Khan’s release on bail without taking into consideration the facts of the case.
It was submitted in the application that the trial court had failed to appreciate police reports and other relevant evidence provided to it with regard to his involvement in criminal activities including targeted killings, and hurriedly granted bail to the accused.
The Rangers prayed to court to set the trial court’s order aside and order the accused arrest.
Khan’s counsel Shaukat Hayat sought time to file comments. SHC’s division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto adjourning the matter till December 21 ordered for the MQM leader to appear before the court on the next date of hearing.
Court siege case
The Sindh High Court granted more time to the counsel for the provincial police chief and 12 other police officers facing charges of contempt of court for filing their replies in a court siege case, and observed that the “dignity and respect of the institution is the foremost”.
“People come and go but the institutions remain intact,” a division bench headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah observed, saying that decisions had to be taken for strengthening the institution.
It had earlier deferred indictment of Inspector General of Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali and other police officers for two weeks on the request of their counsel.
The court had told the alleged contemnors to explain why police had laid siege to the high court and the adjacent anti-terrorism during a police operation on May 23 to arrest former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and his supporters and why journalists had been mishandled. The court had also rejected the apologies of the police officials.