Warrants out as accused in child abuse case skips bail

DHA resident Rizwan Shaikh had been arrested last
week for torturing 11-year-old domestic worker

The judicial magistrate for District South on Tuesday issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against a citizen, Rizwan Shaikh, who is out on bail in a case pertaining to alleged torture of an11-year-old domestic worker, Asghar.

Shaikh had been arrested last week by the Darakhshan police from his house on Khayaban-e-Shamsheer, DHA, on a complaint by the minor’s father, Muhammad Ishaq. 

The father had told the police that he had left Asghar at Rizwan’s house two years ago and the latter had barred him from seeing his son since. Ishaq also told the police that Asghar had not since been allowed to visit his family in Badin either.

Clifton SP Dr Assad Malhi had confirmed that torture marks were found on the minor’s body. “The boy [Asghar] told the police that the owner of the house and his wife beat him up brutally over minor mistakes.”

Following his arrest, the accused Rizwan had been granted bail for a surety sum of Rs200,000. As he did not show up for yesterday’s hearing, the case investigation officer (IO) told the judge that Rizwan had not contacted the police after acquiring bail and had probably fled the city.

Rizwan’s counsel contended that his client had not been informed about the summons issued for yesterday’s hearing and had unknowingly missed the proceedings. 

After hearing both sides, the judicial magistrate observed that Rizwan had violated the bail agreement by missing the hearing and issued warrants for his immediate arrest. However, he told his attorney to make sure that Rizwan does not miss the next hearing, otherwise he would face detention.

Cop who shot at bus remanded 

A police constable, Naseer Shah, who was arrested on Monday for firing at a passenger bus in Nazimabad, was remanded to police custody on a three-day physical remand.

The case investigation officer had requested the District Central judicial magistrate for a 14-day physical remand of accused Shah. The judge, however, shot down the request and gave the police three days to complete interrogations. 

Presenting his version, the accused policeman claimed he shot at the passenger bus after someone from inside the bus opened fire. According to the Nazimabad police, the accused Naseer Shah signalled the driver of a minibus of route name “Bilal”, bearing registration number PE-5934, to stop but he tried to race away. Shah then fired gunshots at the minibus.

Three passengers of the bus suffered bullet wounds and were rushed to the nearby Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The doctors there said the three men, Muhammad Umair, 24, Umar Hayat, 27, and Mehtab, 29, were out of danger.

The policeman, who had opened fire on the bus, escaped from the scene, but was later taken into custody on the directives of police high-ups.

Nazimabad head mohrir Faisal Munshi said an FIR, No: 96/17, under section 324/34 had been registered against the constable on behalf of the State. He added that police were recording the statements of the witnesses and the injured men.

Father’s killer remanded

The Judicial Magistrate (West) sent Zafarullah, a man accused of murdering his own father, to the Central Prison on a judicial remand. 

Earlier, Zafarullah had recorded his confessional statement in which he said he had a monetary dispute with his father, Mujeeb Shah, and had attacked him with a dagger in a fit of rage. A case had been registered against Zafarullah at the SITE-B police station.

ATC jails two men 

An anti-terrorism court, ATC-V, sentenced a man, Salman alias Punbjabi, to 19 years in jail in a case of possessing illegal weapons and explosive materials. Salman was arrested in 2016 from the limits of the Korangi Industrial Area police station.

The same court jailed a man, Habib, for 25 years in a case of possession of illegal weapons and explosive materials.