The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to allow the family members of the suspect behind the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr. Imran Farooq, who was detained by the FIA for questioning, to meet the detainee whenever they make a request through the proper channel.
A division bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar had taken up the plea filed by Beena Khalid, the wife of the suspect who had been missing since 2001. Recently the authorities announced his arrest from the Pakistan-Afghan border.
The FIA authorities informed the judges that the accused, Khalid Shamim, was reportedly involved in the conspiracy, abetment and target killing of Dr Imran Farooq, a senior leader of MQM, in London. The federal government, therefore, exercising of its powers under section 6 of Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2014, issued an order dated June 26, for preventive detention of the accused by the FIA for a period of 90 days from the date of the order.
The petitioner had submitted that her husband had gone missing from Karachi’s Malir locality on October 6, 2011. She said she had come to know that Khalid had been shown arrested from the Chaman border by the Frontier Constabulary officials and his custody has been handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency.
She argued that life of her husband was in danger. She further said that he may also be shifted outside the country for interrogation about the murder of MQM’s Dr. Imran Farooq in London.
The applicant pleaded before the court to direst relevant authorities from shifting her husband outside the country. The court was asked to order the federal authorities to allow the relatives of the suspect to meet him.
