A suspended Station House Officer (SHO) fled from the premises of the Sessions Judge Thatta’s court on Wednesday, moments after his bail application was rejected in a high-profile case involving the alleged torture of a town chairman and a local journalist.
The accused officer, former SHO of Makli police station Mukhtiar Kalhoro, was present for the confirmation hearing of his interim pre-arrest bail. The hearing was held in the court of District and Sessions Judge Ms. Mushtri Khanam, where senior lawyer Advocate Aijaz Jamali presented arguments on behalf of the complainants.
After the arguments, the court canceled the officer’s bail. Immediately after the verdict was announced, Mukhtiar Kalhoro evaded custody and successfully escaped from the court premises.
In response to the bail rejection and subsequent escape, a special team from the FIA Crime Circle Hyderabad has initiated a series of raids to apprehend the fugitive law enforcement official.
The case pertains to allegations that Town Chairman of Mirpur Sakro, Iqbal Khas-kheli, and journalist Yusuf Shaheen were subjected to torture during their arrest several months ago. The FIA Hyderabad had registered a case against four police personnel, including Kalhoro, former CIA In-charge Thatta Mumtaz Brohi, and Athar Channa.
Authorities have submitted the preliminary charge sheet in the case to the court. Meanwhile, the scope of the investigation has been widened, and as part of the inquiry for the final charge sheet, notices are being issued to additional police personnel.