KHUDAYAR MOHLA

ISLAMABAD: The top court on Tuesday extended suspension of non-bailable arrest warrants for supermodel Ayyan Ali till September 21 in the murder case of a customs officer Ejaz Mehmood and asked Ayyan Ali to become part of the investigation of the case.

Earlier, Ayyan Ali had filed an application under Order XXIII Rule (1) and (6) of the Supreme Court Rules 1980 through her counsel Sardar Latif Khosa against the arrest warrant procured by Station Head Officer (SHO) Police Station Waris Khan, Rawalpindi on July 21, 2016.

Accepting the plea of Ayyan Ali, the court had suspended the operation of arrest warrant of her through an interim order whereas it issued notices to Secretary Interior, SHO Waris Khan, Rawalpindi and others in the matter.

On Tuesday, appearing before a three-member judges’ bench of the Justice Amir Hani Muslim on the court notice in the matter, Additional Prosecutor General Ahmad Raza Gillani contended that matter in hand should be referred to the Anti Terrorism Court.

Gillani submitted that a public servant was murdered with an intention to bar him from discharging duties hence this was not an ordinary matter and it should be referred to ATC for trial. Meanwhile, accepting his contentions the bench issued directives to Ayyan Ali to associate with the investigation before the local police in the case.

Sardar Latif Khosa, counsel for Ayyan Ali, pleaded that her client’s life was in danger as miscreants could also kill her like Qandeel Baloch, adding that Ayyan Ali was in jail when customs officer Ejaz Mehmood was murdered.

However, the bench observed that judiciary could not interfere in the investigation process as proper case was lodged against the supermodel where law permitted her to invoke the concerned court jurisdiction for pre-arrest bail.

Responding to the bench query, Assistant Advocate General Punjab Mudisar Khalid Abbasi submitted that Ayyan Ali was served notice in response to application filed by widow of customs inspector Ejaz Mahmood.

The bench asked him that whether the authorities took any action on the negligence of the investigation officers, however, Abbasi just said that a notice was served to Ayyan Ali in the matter.

Abbasi told the court that one Zargham, customs superintendent and Doctor Haroon of Benazir Hospital Rawalpindi were also accused of delaying the operation of Ejaz Mehmood to which the bench asked as to why those accused persons were not apprehended so far. Responding to the court query, Abbasi submitted that those accused persons were associated with the investigation but were not arrested.

Appearing before the bench, Shafqat Munir Malik, counsel for Saima Ejaz, widow of customs inspector Ejaz Mehmood implored that his client should be made party in the instant appeal.

He contended that the Ministry of Interior had placed the name of Ayyan Ali on the Exit Control List (ECL) in response to his client Saima Ejaz’s plea who is spouse of customs inspector Ejaz Mehmood therefore his client should be made party in the instant appeal.

He further complained that the police did not record the statement of Saima Ijaz. Assistant Advocate General Punjab, Khalid Abbasi, however, informed the court that the case was lodged and the statement of the widow was also recorded.

Turning down the plea of Khosa for investigation of his client Ayyan Ali at an alternative place instead of Police Station, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan sarcastically remarked as to whether police stations should be closed.

Latif Khosa pleaded that he made the request to the court for the directives in order to avoid any possible humiliation to her client in the police station to which the court asked Khosa to remain present with her client during the investigation.