KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has restrained the police from harassing an overseas Pakistani in a property dispute case.

The court also granted time to a police officer to settle the issue with the petitioner.

Zafarullah Merchant had petitioned the SHC and submitted that he was an American citizen and had a property dispute in the Garden area of city.

Citing home secretary and various police officers as respondents, the petitioner submitted that he had executed limited power of attorney in favour of a woman to represent him before the court, but she turned dishonest and used police officers to help her to usurp the subject property.

He also alleged that sub-inspector Nadeem Akhtar of Special Investigation Unit and constable Asif Noor posted at Jamshed Quarter police station had so far obtained over $ 80,000 as a bribe from him and were issuing him threats and causing harassment.

When the a single-judge bench headed by Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro took up the case for hearing, the sub-inspector was in attendance while the constable was produced by the police officers in court despite last court order and submitted that they were unable to trace out the policeman.

However, the SI said that the policeman was residing at police headquarters and he did not communicate such information to the central police office. Thereafter, the bench said that apparently, the police officer was in league with the constable and was protecting him, which amounts to misconduct. It warned to refer the case of SI Akhtar to the provincial police officer to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him.

However, the police officer sought one week`s time and submitted that he will approach the petitioner to settle the dispute and also conduct himself strictly in accordance with law.A DSP also assured the court that both police officials in question will not cause any harassment to the petitioner and the central police office will also issue appropriate direction to the police officers concerned on the subject issue.

The bench granted the time and warned that the matter will be sent to IGP Sindh if the policemen concerned failed to settle the dispute.