Posts in category: Crime & Court

ISLAMABAD: A video allegedly showing an Islamabad police officer asking a citizen for a bribe at a checkpoint has gone viral on social media.

SSP Investigation Suleman Zafar took notice of the viral video and immediately suspended the police officer allegedly involved in seeking the bribe.

ASP Nosherwan Minhas has been appointed as the inquiry officer to conduct a transparent investigation into the incident.

SSP Investigation Suleman Zafar said corruption and misuse of authority would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Also Read: Fire at Landhi Export Processing Zone Factory Remains Uncontrolled After Eight Hours

The Islamabad Deputy Commissioner’s Office has informed the Islamabad High Court in writing that the Islamabad administration does not have funds available to compensate the victims of the G-11 Judicial Complex suicide attack.

Islamabad High Court Justice Arbab Tahir heard a petition seeking compensation for the victims of the suicide attack at the G-11 Judicial Complex.

The Deputy Commissioner’s Office informed the court that no separate funds had been allocated to compensate the families of those killed in the G-11 blast. It said a letter had been written to the Chief Commissioner’s Office seeking allocation of funds.

Also Read: PTI Lawyers Seek Urgent Hearing of Contempt Case at Supreme Court

The office further informed the court that compensation cheques had been distributed among the families of those killed and injured in the Tarlai Imambargah blast after funds were received from the Ministry of Interior.

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the district administration had money to spend on riding a buggy but did not have funds to compensate the martyrs.

The court ordered the ICT Joint Secretary Administration to appear in person on September 15 along with the complete record.

KARACHI: Police have detained three people allegedly involved in assaulting Professor Arif Khan Saqi, head of the Department of Islamic Studies at the University of Karachi.

According to police, the senior professor was travelling to the University of Karachi in an online taxi when the vehicle stopped at a location and a double-cabin vehicle hit it while reversing.

Police said that following the collision, the son of a local hotel owner and his armed guards, who were travelling in the double-cabin, allegedly assaulted the professor. They allegedly struck him on the head with the butt of a pistol, pushed him and dragged him into a restaurant, where he was allegedly beaten again.

Police said the three detained suspects are employees of the hotel, while efforts are underway to trace and arrest other people allegedly involved in the incident.

Speaking about the incident, Professor Arif Saqi said he had asked the occupants of the double-cabin to compensate the online taxi driver for the damage caused to his vehicle, as the driver was a poor young man. In response, he alleged, the hotel owner’s son hit him with a pistol butt and resorted to aerial firing.

The University of Karachi Teachers’ Association condemned the assault on Professor Saqi and called on senior authorities to take notice of the incident and ensure that those responsible are punished.

Also Read: Mir Raza Case: 9 Samples Sent to Karachi University Destroyed, Reports of 4 Received by Police

FIR Registered

Police have also registered a case over the alleged assault on the University of Karachi professor.

The FIR was registered at Sachal Police Station on the complaint of Professor Arif Khan Saqi against Koneen Ali Gohar Shah and other accused persons.

The case includes charges relating to attempted murder, assault, causing injuries and wrongful confinement.

According to the FIR, two armed guards allegedly assaulted the professor and his nephew. The complainant said that they had demanded compensation after their vehicle was damaged at Safora Chowk.

The FIR states that after sustaining injuries, the accused allegedly took the professor and his nephew to a hotel, where they were allegedly confined and subjected to further assault.

Professor Saqi also alleged in the FIR that the accused resorted to aerial firing and took his nephew’s vehicle away with them.

According to the complaint, police reached the scene and recovered the professor and his nephew, while the accused fled from the spot.

KARACHI: In the Mir Raza case, the Judicial Commission has directed that a notice be issued to Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar.

During today’s proceedings, Mir Raza’s father and sister, as well as Police Surgeon Dr Samia, appeared before the commission and responded to various questions put to them.

During the hearing, Advocate Jibran Nasir told the commission that samples obtained from Mir Raza’s body had been sent to the laboratory after a delay.

The commission asked whether such samples had a specific shelf life.

Dr Samia said that, generally, the delay does not make a difference. However, she said that if a chemical trace was not detected due to the delay, it would not be possible to determine whether it was absent originally or had been affected by the delay. She added that samples in high-profile cases are generally not delayed in being sent to laboratories.

During the proceedings, the Advocate General Sindh objected that questions should be asked by the commission rather than by Jibran Nasir.

Also Read: Mir Raza Case: Final Exhumation Report Raises Questions Over Suicide Narrative

The commission questioned the objection, asking what problem the Sindh government had if the family wanted to ask questions. The commission also remarked, “Are you hiding something?”

The commission subsequently said that a notice should be issued to the Sindh home minister to summon him before the proceedings.

The commission remarked that, given the conduct during the proceedings, the home minister should be called.

Following an intervention by the Advocate General Sindh, the commission suspended the proceedings and directed that a notice be issued to Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar.

Despite the emergence of an inquiry report into the alleged torture of a family in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA), no departmental action has so far been taken against the police officers held responsible in the report.

Sources said 24 hours have passed since the inquiry report was sent to the Sindh Inspector General of Police, but none of the police officers named as responsible has yet been suspended.

The inquiry report also held Korangi SSP Fida Hussain Janwari responsible for the incident and recommended departmental action against him. Despite the findings, Janwari remains in his position.

The report recommended departmental action against four other police personnel, including the Darakshan SHO, the SIO and an officer associated with the police mobile.

Also Read: Punjab Faces Greater Terror Threat from Neighboring Provinces, Says CM Maryam Nawaz

According to the inquiry report, a case was also recommended against two women and a man seen in the video of the alleged violence. The report stated that the individuals allegedly involved in the assault on the family were close relatives of Fida Hussain Janwari.

Sources said available evidence and video footage related to the incident were reviewed during the inquiry, following which action was recommended against the police officers and other individuals involved.

Despite clear recommendations in the report for departmental and legal action against those held responsible, the failure to implement them so far has raised questions.

Sources said a decision by the Sindh IG on the inquiry report and action against the responsible officers is now awaited.

Karachi court has acquitted Natasha, the woman accused in the 2024 Karsaz road accident that killed a father and his daughter, in a separate case concerning alleged drug use.

The court acquitted Natasha in the drug case after a medical report failed to establish that she had consumed narcotics. The court observed that no signs of drug use were detected in her blood test.

Natasha had already been acquitted in the main road accident case. The families of the victims had submitted a compromise agreement before the court, stating that they had forgiven the accused “for the sake of Allah.” The local court accepted the compromise and acquitted her in the accident case.

The Karsaz accident occurred on August 19, 2024, on Karsaz Road in Karachi’s District East, when a speeding vehicle struck a motorcycle, killing a father and his daughter and injuring three other people.

Also Read: Police Solve Shamsu Bibi Murder Case, Arrest Five Including Father and Brother

Following the incident, citizens at the scene protested over the deaths and demanded action against the driver, identified as Natasha. Police arrested her at the scene and shifted her to Jinnah Hospital for medical examination.

The accident had attracted widespread public attention, with questions raised over the circumstances surrounding the crash and the subsequent legal proceedings against the accused.

The latest court decision relates specifically to the drug-use case and was based on the medical evidence presented before the court.

RAWALPINDI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has raided a call centre in Rawalpindi allegedly involved in online fraud and arrested 28 suspects, officials said.

According to the NCCIA, those arrested include 24 men and four women, all of whom are Pakistani employees working at the call centre.

Officials said the suspects allegedly targeted citizens through Telegram and fake Facebook profiles operated in the names of women. The investigation has also revealed the alleged use of fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes to deceive victims and obtain money from them.

During the operation, NCCIA officials seized several computers and mobile phones from the premises, which are being examined as part of the investigation.

Also Read: IHC Restrains NCCIA from Harassing Journalist Asad Toor During Inquiry

According to NCCIA officials, the fraudulent call centre was allegedly being operated by a Chinese national described as the mastermind of the network. The suspect reportedly fled following the NCCIA raid and remains at large.

Authorities said efforts are under way to trace and arrest the alleged Chinese mastermind as well as other individuals linked to the network.

The NCCIA Rawalpindi has registered a case against all 28 arrested suspects, while further investigation into the alleged online fraud network is continuing.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that civil and criminal proceedings concerning the same matter cannot proceed simultaneously, observing that conflicting decisions from civil and criminal courts could undermine the administration of justice.

The ruling was issued in a case involving a former District Education Officer of Bannu, in which the court laid down important principles regarding the relationship between civil and criminal proceedings.

According to the judgment, where a dispute over ownership or title is already pending before a civil court, the criminal court should ordinarily wait for the civil court to determine the matter. The court held that the authenticity and legal status of disputed documents fall within the jurisdiction of the civil court.

The court further ruled that no criminal or administrative proceedings can be initiated against the petitioners before the disputed certificates are properly verified and their legal status is determined.

Also Read: Supreme Court Clears Way for Hearing of PTI Contempt Petition in Imran Khan Case

It held that criminal or administrative action against the petitioners could only be initiated after the civil court has adjudicated the underlying dispute.

The Federal Constitutional Court observed that where civil and criminal cases are closely connected and arise from the same subject matter, there may be grounds for staying the criminal proceedings. However, such a decision must be based on the specific circumstances of the case and the requirements of justice.

The court clarified that a civil suit filed in bad faith cannot, by itself, be used as a basis for stopping criminal proceedings. Courts must assess the circumstances of each case before deciding whether criminal proceedings should be stayed.

The judgment also emphasized that the legal validity and authenticity of disputed documents are matters for determination by the civil court, particularly where the outcome of the criminal proceedings depends on the resolution of the underlying civil dispute.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has directed jail authorities not to keep Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in solitary confinement.

Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo of the Islamabad High Court disposed of petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, issuing directions to the Adiala Jail authorities.

Aleema Khan had approached the court against the alleged solitary confinement of the PTI founder, while Mubashira Khawar Maneka had filed a petition concerning Bushra Bibi.

The Islamabad High Court declared the petitions maintainable in light of the judgments in the Nusrat Bhutto case and the Begum Shamim Afridi case. The court directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to ensure compliance with its directions and ordered that an implementation report be submitted within 15 days.

Also Read: Imran Khan Meets Sister Noreen Niazi at Adiala Jail; Aleema Khan Calls for Court Relief

The court directed jail authorities to arrange a meeting between Bushra Bibi and the PTI founder. The judgment stated that the Superintendent of Adiala Jail must ensure that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are not kept in solitary confinement.

The court further directed that Imran Khan be allowed to meet his family in accordance with jail rules and be provided with telephone access to speak with his sons.

The judgment also directed jail authorities to provide Imran Khan with newspapers and books on a daily basis.

Regarding the recording of Imran Khan’s audio, the court stated that the facility could be withdrawn if the audio is recorded and subsequently misused.

The court also directed that Imran Khan be provided with medical facilities in accordance with the jail rules.

LAHORE — Significant progress has been reported in the murder case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abdullah Tahir, with police naming three suspects already in custody in the case.

According to police sources, TikToker Lareeb and Abdullah Tahir’s driver, Asghar, have been nominated in the case. Lareeb and Asghar were named for allegedly providing Abdullah Tahir’s location to the suspects and facilitating the crime. The suspect accused of conducting reconnaissance has also been nominated in the case.

A total of five suspects, including those recently nominated, are currently in the custody of the Crime Control Department (CCD) police. However, police have so far been unable to arrest the alleged main shooter, Arslan, and two other shooters.

Also Read: PTI Leader Abdullah Tahir Murder Case: TikToker Arrested for Alleged Honey-Trap Plot

Meanwhile, a hearing was held at the Lahore Sessions Court on TikToker suspect Lareeb Shahzadi’s post-arrest bail application in the murder case, in which she was arrested on allegations of facilitation.

Ghulam Abbas Chadhar, a member of the Punjab Bar Council, submitted the power of attorney on behalf of the complainant, while Advocate Azhar Mayo appeared on behalf of the accused.

The police requested additional time to submit the case record. The court accepted the request and adjourned the hearing until September 10. The post-arrest bail application of Lareeb Shahzadi was heard by the Additional Sessions Judge.

The case has been registered by the Ghalib Market Police Station.