Court orders facilities for Uzair Baloch in Rangers’ sub-jail

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) directed on Monday prison authorities to provide facilities to outlawed Peoples Aman Committee chief Uzair Baloch at the Mitha Ram Hostel according to the law. Uzair has been kept at the hostel manned by the Sindh Rangers following his conviction by a military court on espionage charges in April 2020.

The alleged kingpin of Lyari gang war has been booked and charge-sheeted in dozens of criminal cases of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and attacks on law enforcers.

As a kidnapping-cum-murder case came up for hearing before the ATC-VII judge in the judicial complex inside the central jail on Monday, Uzair Baloch was produced from the Mitha Ram sub-jail. Two co-accused -- Riaz Sarwar and Sher Afsar -- turned up on bail.

Uzair through his lawyer Hyder Farooq Jatoi filed an application seeking provision of necessary facilities at the Metha Ram Hostel under the jail rules.

The applicant complained that he was not being provided facilities at the Metha Ram sub-jail maintained by the paramilitary troops as per the Sindh Prisoners and Correction Rules 2019. He pleaded with the court to order provision of necessary facilities, including a television, an exhaust fan and exposure to fresh air and sunlight. He further requested that he be allowed to meet his family once a week.

Noting that the relevant jail superintendent was required to provide facilities to the under-trial prisoner as per the law, the judge ordered that the application be forwarded to him to take action in this regard.

Meanwhile, the investigation officer of the case submitted a report informing the judge that the head of the JIT, SSP Fida Hussain Janwari, has been on a 12-day ex-Pakistan leave until July 16. Janwari who headed a JIT that investigated Uzair Baloch has been summoned to record his testimony in the case.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the hearing of the case until July 19 for recording evidence with a direction to the witness to appear on the next date.

Uzair Baloch, along with two former Rangers officials, Riaz Sarwar and Sher Afsar, has been charged with kidnapping and killing four men – Ghazi Khan, Mohammad Ameen, Sher Afzal Khan and Shahzad Khan -- in 2010.