SHC seeks explanation for keeping Moazzam in FIA custody

Karachi
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the interior ministry, the paramilitary Rangers and the Federal Investigation Agency on Friday to submit their comments on a petition challenging the detention of Moazzam Ali Khan, an alleged facilitator in the murder case of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Imran Farooq.
Sadia Bano, wife of Khan, said in her petition her spouse was arrested by paramilitary soldiers on April 12 and placed in preventive detention under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
She said her spouse’s custody was illegally handed over to the FIA for interrogation in the murder case after the completion of his 90-day detention though the joint investigation team, in which a FIA member was also included, had already completed its inquiry.
The complainant asked the court to declare handing over Ali’s custody to the FIA illegal. She also sought permission to arrange a meeting with her spouse as per jail rules, and requested the court to direct the home department to give her the JIT report supervised by the DIG South, Karachi.
A division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar issued notices to the federal and provincial law officer, the interior ministry, the FIA, the Sindh Rangers director general and others, and directed them to file comments on the petition by July 30.

Detention cases
The SHC directed the police to record statements of family members of a man who is alleged to be in the custody of personnel of law enforcement agencies.
The directive came at a hearing of a petition filed by Mohammad Iqbal, who submitted that his brother, Mohammad Majid, an employee of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, was picked up by paramilitary rangers from Jacob Lines on March 27.
He said police and law enforcement agencies were not disclosing the whereabouts of the detainee nor did police register his complaint against Majid’s illegal arrest. An officer of the Brigade police assured the court that the statement of the petitioner will be recorded as soon as he approached the police station.
The court directed the petitioner to approach the police station concerned for recording his statement, and observed that FIR of the incident be registered if a cognizable offence was made out. It also directed the SHO Brigade to submit a compliance report by August 6.
The court also told the Arambagh police to record a statement of a petitioner against the alleged enforced disappearance of an employee of the General Post Office. The petitioner, Zeenia Jawaid, submitted that her spouse, Mohammad Javed, went missing after leaving home for work from the Korangi area.

Warrant for SHO
The court also issued a bailable warrant for the arrest of the Khawaja Ajmeer Nagri SHO for his failure to appear despite repeated notices.
A woman, Rukhsana Imran, filed a petition against the illegal detention of her spouse, Imran Mehtab, an employee of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, allegedly by personnel of law enforcement agencies.
Her counsel submitted that the provincial law officer had assured the court that the SHO would record a statement of the woman. He said that when the petitioner approached the SHO to record her statement, police officials refused to do so.
The court directed the DSP concerned to ensure the SHO appeared on August 6.
It also called a progress report from the joint investigation team constituted by the home department to probe the alleged illegal detention of an employee of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Shahzad Khan, since January 15.
A woman, Shaista Riaz, submitted that Rangers personnel took Khan from his house situated in Sector 11-A of Organi Town.
The court was informed by home department representative Sadiq Ali that a joint investigation team had been constituted to look into the allegations. He sought time to file a progress report from the JIT.