The Sindh High Court (SHC) has granted 10-day protective bail to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Jam Abdul Karim in the murder case of Nazim Jokhio to enable the lawmaker to vote on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
MNA Jam Abdul Karim, along with his brother, fellow PPP MPA Jam Awais, have been charged with the abduction, torture and death of Nazim Jokhio, who was found dead in Jam Awais’ farmhouse in November 2021. The young man was allegedly murdered after he confronted the defendants about their Arab guests hunting the Houbara bustard bird in Thatta’s Achaar Salaar Goth, a sport only permitted with prior government permit.
While MPA Jam Awais has been detained along with four other co-accused, the court has named MNA Jam Abdul Karim as an absconding suspect in the case.
The SHC granted protective bail to the MNA, ordering him to surrender before the trial or April 3rd. The bail was guaranteed against a solvent surety of Rs.100,000, as reported in Dawn.
Members of the opposition sought similar protective bail for detained MNA Ali Wazir through a letter written to the National Assembly Speaker.
On Saturday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed told reporters that he had ordered for the arrest of the absconding MNA. “I have directed Federal Investigation Agency [FIA] and Sindh IG [Inspector General] police to arrest PPP MNA Jam Abdul Karim from the airport,” Rasheed said, despite the SHC order the day prior.
