Non-bailable warrants out for Jatoi, father

Karachi

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday issued non-bailabale warrants for the arrest of an absconding co-accused in the Shahzeb Khan murder case, Shahrukh Jatoi, and his father Sikandar Ali Jatoi.

The absconder, along with Nawab Siraj Ali Talpur, allegedly murdered the 20-year-old student after a brawl in Phase V of the Defence Housing Authority in the early hours of December 25.

The ATC remanded three other suspects, Nawab Siraj Ali Talpur, Nawab Sajjad Ali Talpur and Ghulam Murtaza Lashari, in police custody for 10 days. The three had been arrested in Moro, Nausheroferoz.

On Monday police brought them to the ATC amid tight security for obtaining their remand.

The court heard that DSP Aurangzeb Khan lodged a report at the Darakhshan police station, alleging that his son Shahzeb Khan was killed by Shahrukh Jatoi, Nawab Siraj Ali Talpur, Nawab Sajjad Ali Talpur and their employee, Ghulam Murtaza Lashari, after his son stopped the employee from sexually harassing his daughter.

The case was registered under Section 302 (murder), Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 109 (abetment) charges read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Additional Investigation Officer Waseem Ahmed submitted that statements of witnesses had been recorded and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act inserted in the case. He said the name of Shahrukh’s father, Sikandar Ali Jatoi, had been included in the case as a facilitator.

He said police had to arrest the absconding co-accused, recover the gun used in the attack, conduct an identification parade of the suspects and complete other procedural formalities to complete the investigation.

He said Investigation Officer (IO) Mohammad Mubeen appeared before the Supreme Court after the apex court took suo moto notice of the case.

The additional investigation officer requested the court to grant 14 days’ remand of the suspects for further interrogation. However, the ATC, headed by Judge Ghulam Mustufa Memon, granted 10 days’ remand, directing him to produce the suspects at the next hearing.

The police officer also requested the court to issue non-bailable warrants against Shahrukh Jatoi, and his father Sikandar Ali Jatoi, resident of 51/1, Khyaban-e-Janbaz, DHA Phase V.

The court directed the police to arrest them and produce them before it for their remand as early as possible, and observed that in case warrants were not served on the accused they may be returned to the court along with a detailed report.

Court sources said the police also wanted to freeze the bank accounts of the absconding accused. However, Special Public Prosecutor Abdul Maroof opposed the move, arguing that such a request could not be entertained by the trial court, and asked the police to approach the Sindh High Court for the freezing of the accounts.

The Supreme Court has directed the IGP Sindh to arrest Shahrukh Jatoi and his father in three days. A police team has proceeded to Dubai to arrest Shahrukh Jatoi.

The gruesome murder of the young student has sparked protests by civil society and rights activists, who have demanded that the culprits be brought to justice.

They have complained that the police deliberately delayed action to allow the main accused in the case, Shahrukh Jatoi, to escape from the country.

They say influential people along with their private security guards intimidate motorists and commuters as their own vehicles speed through streets and roads of the city. They demand this culture be brought to an end immediately, so that the common man could feel secure.

Posted in: Karachi News