Karachi court grants physical remand of Farhan Ghani in terrorism case

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi has handed over Sindh provincial minister Syed Ghani’s brother, Chanesar Town Chairman Farhan Ghani, along with two co-accused, to police on a four-day physical remand in a case of allegedly assaulting and threatening government employees.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the three accused, including Farhan Ghani, Shakeel, and Qamar Ahmed, were produced before the ATC by Karachi police on Monday.

During the hearing, the court questioned the prosecutor and the investigating officer about the nature of the complainant’s employment and the work they were performing at the time of the incident.

The investigation officer informed the court that the complainant and others were working under official supervision, but the prosecutor failed to clarify which government department employed them.

When asked about the allegations, police stated that the accused had beaten and threatened the complainant and other officials.

The court inquired why provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) had been applied. The prosecutor responded that since government employees and workers were assaulted, the ATA clauses were invoked. Upon further questioning, it was revealed that the complainant’s team had been laying fibre-optic cables.

When the judge asked about legal representation, Farhan Ghani told the court that they had no lawyer present.

Speaking in his defence, Farhan Ghani denied the accusations, stating, “I did not assault anyone. These are false allegations. I was merely passing by and stopped to ask what work they were doing and under whose permission, since, as Town Chairman, it is my authority to question and stop illegal work.”

He further said that he had only demanded road excavation permits, which were not shown to him.

The prosecutor, however, requested a 14-day remand for investigation. After considering arguments, the court granted police custody of the accused until August 28, ordering that they be produced with a progress report at the next hearing.

Yesterday, Karachi police arrested Farhan Ghani, brother of Sindh provincial minister Saeed Ghani and chairman of Chanesar Town, on terrorism charges, and an FIR was registered against him for allegedly assaulting a government official in the town.

The case includes charges under anti-terrorism laws as well as attempted murder, criminal intimidation, and other sections.

Along with Farhan Ghani, the names of Qamaruddin, Shakeel Chandio, Sikandar, and Rohan have also been mentioned in the FIR.

The case was lodged at Ferozabad Police Station under terrorism provisions on the complaint of government employee Hafiz Sohail Ahmed.

In his statement, Sohail claimed that on August 22, while on duty overseeing the laying of fibre-optic cables along Service Road, Shahrah-e-Faisal, 20–25 individuals arrived in three vehicles and attacked him.

He alleged that among the attackers were Farhan Ghani, Qamaruddin, Shakeel, Sikandar, and Rohan, while he could identify others if produced before him.

Following the incident, late at night, Saeed Ghani, along with PPP leaders including Javed Nagori, reached Ferozabad Police Station and met senior police officers before leaving.

Later, police produced Farhan Ghani in the court of the Judicial Magistrate East Karachi and sought a transit remand of the accused, which was approved by the judge on Sunday.

Police told the court that a case has been filed against the accused under anti-terrorism sections. The Investigation Officer (IO) informed the court that all the arrested accused will be produced in an anti-terrorism court on Monday.

Reporter: Jawad Asif