KARACHI:
Chanesar Town Chairman Farhan Ghani and his associates were allowed relief in an assault case after the complainant told the police “he no longer wanted to pursue the case”.
The police on Saturday submitted a report to the Anti-Terrorism Court, describing the incident as a ‘minor altercation’ with no use of any type of arms. The report said that the complainant has withdrawn the case and police were unable to obtain any CCTV footage of the incident which could prove Ghani guilty.
The report further mentioned that the complainant had failed to produce No Objection Certificate (NOC) related to the excavation work being carried out at the time of the incident. Moreover, the complainant could not verify his employment status as a government servant.
On the basis of lack of substantial evidence and the complainant’s willingness not to pursue further legal action, the police report recommended relief for the accused.
Earlier, a judicial magistrate had handed over Farhan Ghani, brother of Sindh Local Government Minister and PPP Karachi President Saeed Ghani, to police on a one-day remand in an assault case, registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
An FIR was lodged at Ferozabad police station by a ‘government employee’, Hafiz Sohail Ahmed Jadoon, who alleged that while supervising work to lay underground optical fibre cable, he was confronted by 20 to 25 men. He named Farhan Ghani and others, accusing them of manhandling him and obstructing the official duty.
The case carried sections of assault, attempted murder, criminal intimidation. After the FIR was registered, Farhan Ghani along with other nominated suspects reached the police station and surrendered. They were produced before a magistrate last Saturday. The investigating officer had requested a one-day transit remand to present the suspects before the Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday, which the court granted.
The PPP Karachi president and Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, in a statement on social media, had confirmed that his brother had an altercation with a man, Sohail, and said the latter had exercised his legal right to lodge an FIR.
