SHC issues notices to AG, others on plea for JIT

The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to the advocate general and the inspector general of police of the province, besides other authorities, on a petition seeking the constitution of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the killing of suspected robber Irshad Ranjhani and police negligence.

Ranjhani, who was the city president of the national Jeay Sindh Tehreek party, shot by UC Chairman Rahim Shah of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Bhains Colony in Shah Latif Town on February 6. The injured man died at the scene after Shah did not let people who had gathered there to take him to hospital.

Petitioner Khalid Ranjhani submitted that his brother was killed by Shah by falsely claiming that he was trying to rob him.

He stated that the video clips circulated in the social media clearly showed that his brother was deliberately killed in cold blood by the UC chairman, but police did not arrest the shooter under the anti-terrorism law.

The petitioner’s counsel submitted that Shah was not being booked under the anti-terrorism law, and requested the court to order his arrest in a FIR registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act as well as the constitution of a JIT.

After the preliminary hearing of the petition, a division bench, headed by Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar, issued notices to the advocate general, the prosecutor general and other authorities and called their comments on February 18.

CM for judicial inquiry

On February 8, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had ordered a judicial inquiry into Ranjhani’s killing.

He had directed Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah to write a letter to the registrar of the Sindh High Court with the request to conduct a judicial inquiry. “We can’t allow anybody to take the law into his hand.” Earlier, the chief Minister had directed provincial police chief Dr Kaleem Imam to have an inquiry conducted by a senior police officer.

He had said the government had restored peace in the city with its political will in which the police, Rangers and Pakistan Army had rendered lot of sacrifices. “Now the government cannot allow anybody to establish a state within the state and take the gun into his hand and terming a person a dacoit kill him.”

FIR and remand

On February 12, police registered a case against Union Council Chairman Rahim Shah as the main accused in the murder case of Irshad Ranjhani.

Shah’s son, two security guards, Shah Latif DSP and acting SHO were also named as suspects in the First Information Report (FIR). Ranjhani was shot dead on February 6 in Bhains Colony within the limits of the Shah Latif police station.

After the incident, a committee, headed by zone East police chief DIG Amir Farooqui, was formed by Karachi’s additional IG, and the team visited the scene to investigate and recorded the statements of the ambulance driver, witnesses and policemen.

DIG Farooqui later told a press conference that Ranjhani was a criminal and was shot and injured by Rahim after the suspect and his companion attempted to rob him the UC chairman. However, Rahim, his men and policemen were used delaying tactics in sending the injured hospital for medical treatment.

A judicial magistrate sent the UN chairman and a police officer on physical remand for four days for allegedly “unintentionally” causing Ranjhani’s death in self-defence. Police presented Shah and Sub-Inspector Riaz Hussain before the District Malir’s magistrate.

According to the remand papers, Shah did not let anyone taken Ranjhani, who according to him was robber, to hospital until the arrival of police. Hussain further delayed the treatment by taking the injured to the police station instead of hospital.