Sindh High Court (SHC) on Saturday barred police from arresting former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza in any of the cases registered against him. The order came in the wake of police crackdown against the guards of Mirza outside the SHC. Mirza was in the court to seek extension in his bail that expired yesterday.
But, police reached the court, arresting Mirza's guards and smashing his vehicles, prompting the former minister to file another petition in the court of Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. Taking notice of the police action outside the SHC, the judge summoned Sindh secretary, Home secretary and other officials to appear before it on Monday and explain their position.
The court ruled that Mirza not to be arrested in any of the cases registered against him. Earlier, police detained 24 guards of former Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza outside the Sindh High Court. Images on television showed masked personnel of the Special Security Unit assaulting people and breaking windows of cars which were part of Mirza's convoy. Zulfiqar Mirza and his wife, former National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza had to confine themselves in the registrar office of the high court. Police and security forces surrounded the court premises. Heavy contingent of police and LEAs were also present outside the ATC and Sindh Assembly.
DIG South Dr Jamil Ahmed said only six security guards of Mirza have been detained outside the court. Earlier, an anti-terrorism court in Karachi rejected Zulfiqar Mirza's application, seeking exemption from hearing. The ATC directed the former PPP leader to appear before it on Saturday. Media reports said the provincial government decided to detain the former minister on Saturday before he appeared in court.
Meanwhile Police personnel on Saturday brutally tortured journalists in front of High Court where they were present in large number to cover the appearance of Zulfikar Mirza in the court. During the brutal onslaught by the police commandos, cameras were also taken away from the journalists. President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUF), Rana Azeem said that former President Asif Ali Zardari's sister Faryal Talpur and Information Minister Sindh Sharjeel Memon unleashed the police commandos on the media personnel, saying that they are 'agents of terrorism'. Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal has taken notice of the incident and said that action would be taken against those responsible.
On the other hand, Anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday extended bail of former home minister Sindh and estranged Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) leader Zulfiqar Mirza and his as many as 107 accomplices till June 2. Mirza's counsel submitted a petition in court pleading to extend the bail of his client which was later accepted by ATC.
Zulfiqar Ali Mirza and his 107 aides were accused of threatening police officers, plundering and staging aerial firing in Badin. Meanwhile, Zulfiqar Mirza on Saturday submitted a petition in Sindh High Court, requesting exemption from appearing before the court as the police have sealed all routes leading to the court. Mirza said he wanted to appear before the court but the police have sealed all the roads leading to the court. He further said that the police have deployed extra force to prevent him from reaching the court. He requested the court to order police for opening of the routes and providing him adequate security. Reports say that strict security arrangements have been put in place in Karachi ahead of probable appearance of Zulfiqar Mirza before the court.
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