KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday gave a social media celebrity until April 18 to join a money-laundering investigation initiated against her by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
A two-judge bench of the high court warned it would withdraw its injunction that restrained the agency from arresting Hareem Shah if she failed to return to the country from abroad and face the probe.
During the hearing, her counsel submitted a medical certificate, composed in the Turkish language, to the court. He said Shah is undergoing treatment in Turkey and has been advised by her doctors to rest for the next few days.
She is unwell and may take up to 20 days to return, he added.
Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro directed the counsel to have the certificate translated into English and then submit it before the court for perusal.
The court expressed annoyance over Hareem Shah’s objectionable remarks about the law enforcement agencies (LEAs). “Foul language was used on social media,” Justice Kalhoro noted.
At this, the lawyer said his client had already apologised for her remarks.
The bench said the woman travelled from England to Turkey instead of returning home to face the probe. “Tell us the final date when she will appear before the FIA?” the court asked the lawyer, to which the latter replied she be granted a month’s time.
“We had ordered Hareem Shah to surrender, but she didn’t,” the court noted, adding: “She flouted the court order.”
The court warned Shah would be granted no more concession and the previous order would be withdrawn if she doesn’t appear before the agency until April 18.
