Court dismisses plea against cricketers

Karachi, Sept 25: Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed of the Sindh High Court dismissed on Monday a petition, with cost, which had sought to institute criminal cases against eight cricketers, and termed it an attempt at seeking personal publicity by the petitioner.

Advocate Qadir Khan Mandokhail had filed the petition on behalf of the welfare trust he heads, praying that criminal cases be registered against Saleem Malik, Ataur Rahman, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus, Inzimamul Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saeed Anwar and Akram Raza and all the bookies whose names had come on record of the inquiry report (by Justice Abdul Qayum).

Assistant Advocate-general Suleman Habibullah opposed the petition on the basis of Section 6 of the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 1956.

Regarding charges relating to match fixing, the PCB counsel had submitted before the court that the players had been penalized by an inquiry commission.

He had submitted that neither of the players cited in the petition resided, nor any of the matches mentioned, were played within the jurisdiction of the court.

Justice Sabihuddin observed that the petitioner himself being a lawyer must be aware of the law.

The judge dismissed the petition which, he observed, was aimed at seeking personal publicity and directed the petitioner to pay the cost in the sum of Rs10,000.