Two PTI workers kidnapped, tortured in Karachi

Asad and Yasin were assaulted for contesting LG elections under party's banners, says PTI leader

KARACHI: Two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers were kidnapped on Tuesday night and tortured by unidentified men and released around 4am, informed MPA Khurram Sher Zaman on Wednesday.

He was addressing a press conference at Insaf House, the party secretariat in Karachi, where the two victims, identified as Asad and Yasin, were sitting next to Zaman and another party leader Imran Ismail.

Asad had contested the local bodies elections for the post of vice-chairman from UC 19, while Yasin had contested for the same post from UC 22, said Zaman.

Last night, the two men were kidnapped by unknown men from the Garden area and were blindfolded. They were then taken to a location near the Matric Board office where they were subjected to torture and were dumped in Gulshan-e-Iqbal near the Railway crossing. Zaman stated that the attackers had subjected them to torture because they had contested elections under the banner of PTI. He then questioned as to what message was being sent to PTI and why it was not being allowed to freely participate in the political process in Karachi?

He also said that an FIR has been registered at the Garden Police Station and they will also approach the Rangers to conduct and inquiry into the matter. Besides, he also demanded the newly appointed chief minister to take immediate action since in the absence of a home minister, he is fulfilling those responsibilities.

Ismail remarked that the Sindh government and the Sindh Police have failed to provide security to the people of Karachi. He demanded that the Rangers be given powers for an adequate time so that they can conduct the Karachi operation without any hurdles and breaks. Giving power extension for three months and then negotiating the extension of those powers will create roadblocks in securing peace in the city, he added.

Survivor's tale

Asad and Yasin both raised their kurtas to display bruises and torture marks which were still fresh from last night. Asad stated that the assailants had first claimed to be from the police but then refused to show their cards and forcibly pushed the two men into a white car at gun point.

While Yasin was blindfolded immediately, Asad claimed that he was blindfolded near Old Golimar Bridge and can identify the attackers.  He also said that they were beaten up with steel pipes, hammers and also electrocuted. He also informed both of them had been threatened over the phone a couple of times, during the election phase.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2016.