Initially, the case was registered against unidentified culprits on the complaint of Salahuddin's other son, Syed Kazim Raza Jaffery. STOCK IMAGE
Mohsin Baloch and Abid Baloch alias Kaloo were convicted by ATC-IV for killing a former president of the Malir Bar Association, Syed Salahuddin Haider Jaffery, 70, and his son, Syed Ali Raza Jaffery, 35. The incident took place on March 24, 2012, when Salahuddin and Ali were going to the court in a rickshaw. As soon as the three-wheeler slowed down in front of a speed breaker on Ghazi Town Road near Bakra Peri, two armed motorists opened fire at them. The injured were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre but eventually died.
Initially, the case was registered against unidentified culprits on the complaint of Salahuddin's other son, Syed Kazim Raza Jaffery. The killing sparked unrest in the legal fraternity, which demanded of the government to nab the criminals responsible for targeted killings across the city. The then home minister of the province, Manzoor Wassan, formed a committee under DIG Mushtaq Mahar to probe the incident.
A month later, on April 27, 2012, police arrested Mohsin while acting on a tip-off. He led the police party to the house his accomplice, Fida alias Fidu, in Salar Goth, where an exchange of fire ensued between the police and the criminals. At least three policemen, including the investigation officer inspector Ismail Lashari, was injured while a constable, Pervez Iqbal, died. Fida was also killed in the encounter. Police personnel managed to arrest Abid while two others, identified as Asif Baloch and Ishaque, managed to flee. A Kalashnikov with 20 live bullets was also seized from him.
Their case was tried in two ATCs and they were eventually proven guilty after three years. The judge, Anand Ram Sairani, also sentenced Abid to 10 years in prison for attempting to murder and five years for possessing an illicit weapon. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a collective fine of Rs70,000. This will turn into an additional one-year jail term in case of non-payment. The judge observed that the death sentences were subject to confirmation by the Sindh High Court.
Advocate Salahuddin
Salahuddin was a senior lawyer and founding member of the Malir Bar Association. He remained the president of the bar for at least 10 years. "Throughout his career, Salahuddin remained active in the struggle for the restoration of democracy and judiciary," the current president of the association, Ahmed Shah, told The Express Tribune. "He was jailed many times during the dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf." He practiced law in Karachi and Hyderabad courts for at least 40 years and was vocal against all kinds of injustices, added Shah.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2015.
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