The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the Pakistan Rangers Sindh director general (DG), and provincial inspector general of police (IGP), home secretary, chief secretary and interior secretary on a constitutional petition of Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi Chairman Afaq Ahmed seeking protection of the Rangers after his release.
The SHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh issued notices to the respondents.
In his petition, Ahmed expressed fear that after his release, he might be arrested again or assassinated.
He also filed a petition seeking court direction for resettlement of 9,250 party activists and supporters in the no-go areas.
Ahmed also filed a petition through human rights activist Iqbal Kazmi, claiming his party was being politically victimised for the past nine years by the previous and present governments, adding that over 1,100 Haqiqi activists were incarcerated.
According to the petition, over 379 Haqiqi activists had been killed while the government imposed an unannounced ban on the party for carrying out their political activities.
Kazmi said Ahmed had been incarcerated since April 4, 2003, and despite being acquitted in all the cases and released, false cases were being registered against him during his detention.
He said the IGP had admitted before the Supreme Court that over 40 percent of police officials have some a political affiliation; therefore, impartiality could not be expected from the law enforcers.
He prayed to the court for directing the Rangers to provide protection to Ahmed because it was likely that more false cases might be registered against him after his release.
He also prayed that the activities of the Haqiqi chief be monitored by the Rangers and intelligence agencies so that he is not rearrested in false cases.
After the hearing, the court fixed the matter for November 1.