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 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 in Sindh Chief Minister House so that Senior Superintend 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. Later, the IGP appeared before the court.
The Chief Justice asked the IGP that how many policemen were killed in Chakra Goth incident. IGP stated that seven policemen were killed and 25 other people were injured.
The Chief Justice asked why witnesses were not appearing on the hearings. ‘’You (IGP) had assured that witnesses in the case will be produced and a DIG rank official assigned who bring witnesses amid security,’’ remarked the Chief Justice
“Seven policemen were killed in the incident but police failed to present any evidence,” the court remarked.
The Chief Justice remarked that case had been processing since 2011; had the Investigation Officers (IOs) done their jobs this delay could have been avoided. However, the IGP apologized with the court on the absence of witnesses.
The court, later, adjourned the hearing till 20th February.
Earlier, on Dec 18, 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 accepted 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.
On August 19, 2011, at least seven policemen were killed while several others injured when armed men sprayed a police van with bullets in the Chakra Goth area.