SC orders authorities to block CNICs, freeze bank accounts of absconders

ISLAMABAD: Hearing the Sindh government’s appeal challenging a drug court order to release an accused on bail, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered Federal Interior Ministry, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), and Home Ministry Sindh to block CNICs and freeze bank accounts of all absconders wanted in different cases.

The provincial government’s appeal against acquittal of an absconder yielded an unanticipated orders against all absconders on Tuesday when three-member bench of the top court’s Karachi registry, headed by Justice Mashir Alam, expressed resentment over nonappearance of absconders before the court.

The provincial prosecutor-general said the relevant drug court had granted bail to a man, Shaukat Masih, accused of involvement in manufacturing and sale of spurious medicines.

The bench queried the police and prosecutions officers about the motive behind delay in tracking down the absconder, Masih.

The apex court’s bench came down hard on the law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in the province while observing that the police arrested anyone, they wanted to but failed to produce an absconder before the court.

“Those giving lessons to others to respect the courts are absconders themselves, making speeches in public in favour of the rule of law and judiciary but reluctant to appear in the court for charges they are facing,” Justice Mushir Alam said.

The bench ordered that all absconding suspects should be arrested and presented before courts.

It is to be mentioned here that the subordinate court had indicted Masih in fake drugs case but the high court in 2009 had acquitted the accused. The suspect is not presenting before the court despite court summons and remains at large.