Islamabad - The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over threats to the petitioners as well as family of social activist Perveen Rehman for the withdrawal of murder case.
Parveen Rehman, director of the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP), was killed in Karachi in 2013.
Raheel Kamran Sheikh, counsel for Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), and other 11 petitioners Monday told the three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk that in May, police officials approached Director Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) Anwar Rashid to withdraw Perveen murder case because the threatening level was increasing.
Likewise, he told that on May 30, two unknown armed persons entered teh home of Perveen Rehman’s sister and threatened her mother but the police did not take action against the accused persons.
Upon this, the Chief Justice told Deputy Inspector General CIA Karachi Sultan Khawaja, who is supervising investigation team, that the apex court had itself taken notice of the murder and it will not allow the petitioners to withdraw the case as it was a matter of public importance.
Regarding threats to the family of Perveen Rehman, the SSP East Karachi told the court that according to the accused persons, they had some monetary dispute with Aqeela Ismail, sister of Perveen Rehman, therefore, no further action was taken against them.
However, the Chief Justice expressed annoyance over police for not registering FIR against the accused persons, adding that the police are bound to record the statement of complainant.
The court has ordered the police to give full security to the family of Perveen Rehman.
Meanwhile, SSP Sabir Shah on behalf of Sindh police requested the bench to give sometime to arrest main accused namely Naeem Sawati, involved in this murder case.
Deputy Inspector General CIA Sultan Khawaja told the bench two weeks more would be required in this matter.
The bench asked him to supervise the investigation till his departure for NEPA course.
The court adjourned the hearing until July 28 as the next hearing will be held in Karachi registry.