KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday summoned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Dr Syed Kaleem Imam and expressed anger over a flawed investigation into an attack on a police van in Chakra Goth area in which seven policemen had died.
A three-member bench of the SHC headed by Chief Justice of SHC Ahmed Ali M Shaikh was hearing a petition filed by an accused, Gul Mohammad, seeking bail in the case.
The counsel of the state, Barrister Mustafa Mahesar told the court that the IGP was busy at the Sindh Chief Minister House and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation has appeared on behalf of the IGP.
The chief justice refused to hear another official on behalf of IGP and expressed annoyance on IGP’s absence and directed him to appear before the court.
However, the IGP later appeared before the court.
The SHC CJ asked the IGP about the number of policemen killed in Chakra Goth incident.
The IGP answered that seven policemen were killed and 25 other people were injured.
The Chief Justice asked why witnesses were not appearing on the hearings.
“You had assured that witnesses in the case will be produced and a DIG rank official assigned who bring witnesses” SHC’s top judge remarked.
“Seven policemen were killed in the incident but police failed to present any evidence,” he added.
The chief justice remarked that the case had been in process since 2011 while adding that of the Investigation Officers (IOs) had performed their jobs, the delay could have been avoided.
In response, the IGP apologised to the court on the absence of witnesses.
The hearing was then adjourned till February 20th.
Last month, the court granted post-arrest bail to a suspected target killer said to be associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and four others in the case.
It granted bail for Kamran Madhuri and four others against a surety bond of Rs0.5 million each and directed the jail authorities to release them if they were not required in any other case.
The applicants had approached the SHC after an anti-terrorism court rejected their bail pleas.
