Prosecutor seeks manslaughter, negligence charges against suspects in labourers' death case.

Byline: Naeem Sahoutara

KARACHI -- A prosecutor has recommended the trial of eight suspects, including builders, contractors and licensed architect, on charges of 'negligence and manslaughter' in a case pertaining to the death of six labourers after a lift buckled in Clifton.

Deputy district public prosecutor Dewan Bhuromal recommended this in a note of scrutiny of an investigation report prepared by the investigating officer of the case for filing it before the judicial magistrate (South) under Section 173 of the CrPC.

Six labourers, including two brothers, had died on March 9 after falling from the cradle while they were installing glasses on the 13th floor of an under-construction building in Clifton's Block 7.

The prosecutor questions the IO for not charge-sheeting the licensed architect and engineer

Builder Mohammad Amin Patel of M/s Land Mark Enterprises, his three partners Abdul Aziz Memon, Mohammad Munir Memon and Ameer Ali along with private contractors Irfan-ur-Rehman of the contractor firm for glasses/lifts and Moosa Iqbal have been booked in a case registered under Sections 322 (manslaughter) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

In the investigation report, IO Sohail Akhtar Salahri charge-sheeted three suspects Irfan-ur-Rehman, Moosa Iqbal and Amin to face trial for manslaughter.

Pointing out shortcomings in the investigation reports, the prosecutor mentioned that the IO placed the three business partners of the builder in column no. 2 in blue ink, which means they were not charge-sheeted due to lack of evidence against them.

Initially, the police had registered a case against Mr Patel, Mr Iqbal and Irfan for the death of the six men. The investigation was conducted by Inspector Syed Ghous Alam, who visited the place of the incident and took steel-like wire of the damaged cradle along with clip, nut and torn rope/belt in his possession and also photographed the site.

On March 10, the IO mentioned that suspect Irfan was arrested and he was produced before a judicial magistrate for recording his statement on March 12.

Upon being assigned the case, the present IO also recorded statements of the suspects and witnesses and obtained copies of the building plan approved by the Sindh Building Control Authority and information about terms and conditions of the approved plan.

According to the plan, the licensed architect had undertaken the responsibility of supervision of the construction work of the said building...