Naqeebullah case: Contempt notice issued to Rao Anwar over failure to appear before SC
The case was heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) -The Supreme Court on Friday issued contempt of court notice to former Malir senior superintendent police (SSP) Rao Anwar after he failed to appear in the hearing.
The case was heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar at the Islamabad registry.
The hearing was adjourned initially as there was no sign of Anwar in the court. After waiting for him quite long, the court issued contempt of court notice and directed all the law enforcement agencies to find the absconding ex-SSP’s location.
The court also directed to freeze all the bank accounts of Anwar.
“We are issuing the former SSP a show cause notice for not complying with the court’s directives. Rao Anwar wasted a major chance. If he had appeared in the court, we would have formed a JIT,” the judge remarked.
During the hearing, Sindh Inspector General (IG) A.D. Khowaja revealed that Rao Anwar contacted him on Whatsapp after last hearing and told that he will appear in the court.
"A considerable time has passed. It seems that Rao Anwar will not come now. What should be done now as you also have found no clue about him. Mr IG! you do understand criminal cases. If Rao Anwar called you, it means that it was he who wrote letter to the court," maintained the CJP.
"You are a capable officer. No one can run from the law and will be caught one day. Police should continue seraching for Anwar. All the security departments and intelligence agencies should provide complete assistance to Sindh police," directed CJP.
"Rao Anwar did not appear before the court. Maybe, he is sitting in my chamber," he said in a satiric tone. The hearing of the case was adjourned for 15 days.
On Tuesday, the court while granting protective bail to Rao Anwar asked the former SSP to appear in court.
The CJP refrained police from arresting Anwar, who is under scrutiny over his alleged involvement in the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud.
The CJP’s directives came after Rao Anwar wrote a letter to him saying that he was not present at the crime scene.
Anwar while claiming innocence in the case wrote that justice is the right of the oppressed. He has urged the Chief Justice to form an independent JIT in the case.
