SHC seeks construction details at Makli graveyard

Karachi
The Sindh High Court has directed a revenue official to submit documents concerning land of the Makli graveyard in Thatta.
The direction came on a petition of Mohammad Shah seeking removal of encroachments from the internationally declared heritage site.
The petitioner, who is a caretaker of a shrine at the graveyard, had alleged the officials were not paying any heed toward the destruction of the national heritage, while the district officials were also involved with the land mafia in occupying the graveyard’s land.
He requested the court to direct the culture and heritage department and local administration of Thatta to save the ancient graves from being ruined by land grabbers.
Mukhtiarkar Thatta Abdul Latif sought time to file a comprehensive report with regard to present status of the Makli graveyard land.
The court directed the revenue officer to clearly mention in his report the area of the historic graveyard, which is encroached upon and the remaining available space on the site.
The court said encroachments and construction, if or any, at the graveyard shall be specifically pointed out and the report must be accompanied by a map of the entire area.

Appeal dismissed
The court dismissed the appeal of three convicts, including a woman, against their death sentence in a triple murder case.
Asma Nawab, Farhan and Javed were sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court for killing Asma’s parents and her brother, Asif, in Model Colony in December 1998 as they had opposed to her marrying Farhan.
According to the prosecution, the appellants killed Asma’s parents and brother at their house situated in the Saudabad area.
The appeal of the convicts was heard by referee judge of the SHC, following split verdict on appeal of convicts by the division bench of SHC as one judge of the bench acquitted the convicts from the charges while the other member of the bench upheld the conviction in 2009.

‘Illegal’ custody case
The court also issued notices to the home secretary and law enforcing agencies heads on petitions against detention of three citizens allegedly by Rangers.
Sofia Saeed and Nadir Khan had submitted in identical petitions that Sikandar Saeed, Niaz Ali and Asad were working on hydrants in the Landhi and Malir areas when Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and Rangers raided and took them without any charges. The detainees were not involved in any illegal activity or running any illegal business.
The court was asked to direct the police and Rangers to bring the detainees in court and release them if they were not involved in any case.
The division bench, issuing notices to the Rangers director general and police chief, directed the Rangers to produce the detainees before the court if they were in their custody.