Pakistani national granted interim relief against police harassment in South Africa

A Pakistani national has been granted interim relief against alleged police intimidation and harassment. AN ACTING judge has granted a Pakistani national interim relief against alleged police intimidation and harassment. Raja Hammad Raza, represented by attorney Avir Maharaj and advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, brought an urgent application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for the interim relief pending the outcome of an application to review and set aside a warrant for his arrest.

The respondents in the case are the Minister of Police, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), a senior public prosecutor, a magistrate at Madadeni Magistrate’s Court, and Warrant Officer Jean Pierre based at the Newcastle Police Station. In his founding affidavit, Raza, who is the director of an e-hailing company and owns a company that purchases vehicles and provides chauffeur services, said the history of the application went back to 2024. He has lived in South Africa since 2004, and holds a visitor’s and work permit. Raza said that on August 5, 2024, while in Johannesburg, he received a phone call from a Sergeant Nene of Osizweni Police Station requesting that he go to the police station.