Statements of seven accused recorded,IO tells anti-graft court

One of the accused granted bail in two cases 

The statements of seven suspects arrested in the Jufelhurst School demolition case have been recorded, investigation officer Inspector Imtiaz Channa on Thursday told the Provincial Anti-Corruption Court (PACC). 

He submitted a report before the court, informing that he had interrogated the seven suspects incarcerated in the central prison.  

The PACC has ordered the relevant prison authorities to hand over the custody of seven suspects allegedly involved in demolition of the Jufelhurst School to anti-corruption Inspector Imtiaz Channa.

The court also granted bail to an accused, Zeeshan, who is allegedly involved in demolition of the school building and a fake ownership case.

Ater hearing the arguments tendered by Advocate Fawad Ali Kachi on behalf of Zeeshan, the court deemed it fit to grant him bail in the sum of Rs100,000 (each) in two cases.

The court has yet to hear arguments on the bail pleas of FIA Inspector Adnan Ali, SHO Soldier Bazar police Irshad Ahmed and contractor Ameen.

The PACC has ordered the jail authorities to hand over the custody of FIA Inspector Adnan Ali, ASI Irshad Ahmed, ASI Hakim Ali, builder Sajjad Bashir, contractor Ameen, surveyor Ghulam Fareed and former mukhtiarkar Ahmed Memon to the investigation officer of the case.

These seven accused were sent on judicial remand, while another accused, Zeeshan, was granted bail. His bail pleas in two cases were approved on Thursday.

A case against the suspects was registered by the school's headmaster, Muhammad Shafiq.

Former SHO Soldier Bazar police sub-inspector Irshad Soomro and his other accomplices allegedly involved in the incident were arrested by the CTD police and they are being interrogated on the orders of the court concerned.

The Jufelhurst School was established in 1931 by Sybil D’Abero, who had also built her 500-yard residence within the school boundary. The building was declared a heritage site by the Sindh Culture Department.