MQM-P worker died of cardiac arrest, not 'police violence': Sindh minister

Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani on Thursday claimed that Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) worker Aslam Khan did not die due to police violence but as a result of a heart attack a day earlier.

Several people, including women and children, were injured and many were taken into custody after police resorted to baton-charge and shelling on MQM-P workers protesting against the recently passed amendments to the Sindh Local Government Act of 2013 on Wednesday.

A senior member of MQM-P North Karachi UC-5 joint organiser Aslam Bhai, who was injured in the protest, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre late Wednesday evening, the MQM-P spokesman said.

Read more: PM Imran warns of action against officials after MQM-P clash

Hours after the clash between the protesters and the police, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had announced that the party would be observing a Black Day on Thursday (today) over the brutal treatment meted out to his party workers.

Addressing the media outside the Karachi Press Cub yesterday, Siddiqui said there were reports that a year-old baby who was in his mother’s lap, died from being hit by a tear gas shell, “We pray that this news is wrong,” he said, adding, “A white double-cabin SUV was seen hauling away three of our workers Rana Ansar, Zahida and Rabia; if they are not released by night, the police station concerned will be held responsible.”

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Ghani said that there should not have been any incident of police violence at the MQM-P rally yesterday.

"PSL teams are staying in hotels in the red zone... they had to leave the hotel. Police tried to negotiate with the protestors but they did not listen," he added.

Also read: Sindh LG Act: Opposition parties slam PPP govt over ‘black law’

Ghani claimed that MPA Sadaqat Hussain, along with four-five people, first attacked the police personnel and only then did the force had responded.

The provincial information minister said that the MQM-P worker did not die due to police torture. "He was brought to a hospital in Federal B. Area after getting ill. Why he wasn't brought to NICVD or JPMC? I request his family members to allow his post mortem so his real cause of death can be revealed."

He said that three people including MPA Sadaqat were brought to JPMC and were later discharged after being provided medical aid. He also condemned the statements of MQM-P leaders Amir Khan and Khalid Maqbool after the incident, saying that they were inappropriate.

"The MQM-P is trying to ignite ethnic violence in the city... I hope the people of Karachi will not listen to such statements," he added.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan threatened action against officials responsible for the 'violence' meted out to MQM-P's protesters outside the CM House in the port city.

Taking notice of the incident, PM Imran added that a report had been sought from the interior ministry, Sindh chief secretary and Sindh inspector general.