The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that DGM Security Pvt Limited, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTCL) sponsored the deadly drag race, which claimed five innocent lives.
Mubasharullah, DIG Police submitted a report to the apex court, confirming the role of DGM Security Pvt Limited, PSO and PTCL, terming it a legal event but the investigation revealed that they had not taken due care and caution ensuring that the event they were sponsoring was legal.
The report says that PTCL in particular got published advertisements in newspapers and also participated in the press conference, which gave the impression to the general public as well as the participants about the legitimacy of this race.
The investigators further said that PTCL also emailed information about this race to its employees showing the event to be legal and security proof, adding that most of the participants and spectators joined in because of the credibility attached to the sponsors ie PTCL and PSO.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry with Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing a suo motu case regarding the death of five persons in a drag race in Bahria town, Rawalpindi.
"Their responsibility for sponsoring an illegal event has been examined and it has been found out during the investigation that all the sponsors pleaded that they were individually and collectively working with Atif Sheikh, the organiser of the race, who had told the sponsors that getting permission of holding the event was his responsibility," the report added. The court directed Federal Investigation Agency including interior ministry to accelerate its efforts to bring back Atif Sheikh - the main accused in Bahria town drag race, who took refuge in Dubai after committing heinous crime.
The report pointed out that it has been established during investigation that none of the sponsors had demanded from the organiser - Atif, the written permission of the government to hold this event as required under section 103 of MVO 1965.
"Hence the sponsors ie PTCL and PSO are also fully responsible for facilitating the illegal event and they are being charged accordingly", the investigators contended.
The DIG told the court that notices had been issued to the concerned persons of above mentioned organisations for sponsoring drag car race during course whereof an accident took place and five persons lost their lives besides leaving two persons injured. It is to be noted that the prosecution case against all the accused involved in this matter was that the drag car race was organised without any permission and against the provisions of section 103 of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance.
The DIG further submitted that Atif Sheikh - organiser of the drag car race has been arrested in Dubai and the government of Pakistan, interior ministry has been requested for his extradition to Pakistan.
A copy of the letter dated 19th March, 2011 showing the progress so far made by the interior ministry was also been placed on record perusal whereof indicates that Atif Sheikh has been arrested on March 14, 2011 by Dubai authorities on the request and efforts of ministry of interior and FIA.
The court was told that red notice was issued against the accused (Atif) on December 31, 2010 on the request of DIG, Rawalpindi dated December 28, 2010. The accused would be extradited to Pakistan within the shortest possible time upon completion of extradition related formalities, the investigators added.
The apex court once again directed FIA for early extradition/deportation of Atif Sheikh and to speed up their efforts in this regard through foreign affairs ministry. It also directed DG FIA and home secretary Punjab to complete the extradition documents and provide the same to interior ministry for transmission to foreign affairs ministry.
The interior ministry assured the bench its full possible co-operation and prompt compliance with any direction of the apex court. The bench observed that in view of the above report at this stage let interior ministry accelerate its efforts to bring back Atif Sheikh to Pakistan as he, being its citizen, is answerable to the prevailing law of the land.
Mubashar Ullah told the court the accused may be nabbed within 2-3 weeks, as according to reports he had filed a law suit in Dubai High Court, questioning the proceedings pending before the apex court as politically motivated. The hearing was adjourned for four weeks with directives to FIA and interior ministry to bring back Atif Sheikh to Pakistan, besides completing all other aspects of the case and submit challan to the court.
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