KARACHI (Web Desk) – The Sindh High Court on Friday issued orders to the authorities not to arrest Dr Zulfiqar Mirza until May 9, after a fifth case was registered against the former Sindh home minister.
Mirza was prompted to file another plea with the court on Thursday, seeking protective bail until the hearing of the fifth case.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mirza’s protective bail until May 6 was extended to May 9 so that he could appear before the trial court in connection with the other cases.
The high court on Friday granted Mirza’s request, and forbade the filing of new cases against the former minister.
The court told Mirza he would be provided security even though attorney general Fateh Malik had earlier argued there was no such provision for security to a former home minister.
Three cases against Zulfiqar Mirza, registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act, were also transferred to a Karachi Anti Terrorism Court from Badin.
Mirza was charged with damaging a police station and forcibly closing down traders’ shops during protests in Badin on May 3. The hearings for the three cases will be held tomorrow in a Karachi ATC.
The court ordered Mirza to refrain from speaking out against PPP MNA Faryal Talpur until May 11.
A hearing was held regarding Talpur’s petition that requested she become party to the case in which the trial court had issued notices preventing Mirza from speaking against her until May 11. A decision on her request is pending.
Mirza had filed a petition claiming Faryal Talpur and various individuals were receiving illegal security, saying that 250 personnel alone had been deployed to protect Talpur.
Former National Assembly speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, spouse of Zulfiqar Mirza, had earlier this week alleged that law-enforcement agencies under the provincial government were deliberately creating a situation that could ultimately lead to bloodshed.
Up to 400 policemen backed by two dozen mobile vans were seen deployed within a radius of five kilometres around Mirza Farms on Thursday.
Fehmida said opponents of Dr Mirza were being pitted against his supporters to provoke a showdown. The police wanted to disturb peace in the district, she alleged.
She had demanded immediate transfer of SSP Khalid Mustafa Korai from Badin.
