Pakistan
Burney handed over to FIA on two-day physical remand
The FIA requested on physical remand of Sarim saying that he should be interrogated regarding children
Karachi: The Karachi City Court handed over the well-known social activist Sarim Burney to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on two-day physical remand in the child trafficking case and asked the investigating officer for a progress report on the next hearing.
According to the details, the case of illegal sending of children abroad and smuggling was heard in the Karachi City Court, during which the FIA presented the Sarim Burney in the court.
The FIA requested on physical remand of Sarim saying that he should be interrogated regarding children.
Sarim Burney's lawyer Syed Asif Ali requested the court to give time to the lawyers' team to appear. Initially, there were reports that Burney was being taken to Malir Court. ‘Our lawyers' team had gone to Malir Court, will reach here shortly’.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case for some time, giving 15 minutes to Sarim's legal team to appear.
When the hearing resumed after the break, Burney's lawyers argued in the court, “Sarim’s services to the society are outstanding, he was arrested on false and baseless charges”.
The lawyers told the court that Sarim Burney has received awards for social services, he cannot imagine any wrongdoing, the case itself is false, the investigating officer has no evidence regarding the allegations, a case cannot be made against him, should be released.
The investigating officer said: “We have to record the statement of the activist, therefore, he should be remanded, we also have to get information about the co-accused, if we are not given custody, there is a fear of destroying the evidence”.
Later, the court rejected Sarim’s plea to discharge him from the case while giving a protective verdict on his physical remand of Saram Barni. The court handed him over to the FIA on two-day physical remand and asked the investigating officer for a progress report on the next hearing.