Justice demanded for trader killed in police custody

Waqas, his brother were brutally tortured at Preedy police station for arguing with a cop

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KARACHI:

The mobile phone trader Waqas who was allegedly tortured to death by police at Preedy police station was laid to rest in the local cemetery.

His funeral prayers were offered at North Nazimabad De Silva Ground, which was attended by his relatives, neighbours and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, the presidents of Electronics and Mobile Market Association and other notable figures.

Victim's brother Ehtesham demanded justice and registration of a murder case against the police.

Ehtesham said that on Friday night, when he was going home with his brother after shutting the shop, a motorcycle-borne policeman hit him while breaking a traffic signal, leading to a heated argument. The argument escalated when more police officials arrived at the scene and both the brothers were taken to Preedy police station. A false FIR was registered against them and they were brutally tortured.

According to Ehtesham, Waqas was taken out of the lock-up at 2am and taken to another room. He said his brother was tortured so brutally that he could hear his brother's screams who reportedly died at 4am.

Later, police officials tried to console the victim's brother and offered to suppress the matter.

Monem Zafar condemned the incident and said that such actions by law enforcers are unacceptable. He demanded dismissal of all the officials involved in the incident and a strict legal action against them. Electronics Market Association President Rizwan Irfan and Mobile Market Association President Minhaj Gulfam said that real culprits should be brought to justice in a judicial inquiry.

Mobile and electronics markets were closed in protest across the city. The Sindh Chief Minister and Additional IG were demanded to conduct a transparent investigation.

The traders announced that Rs2.5 million would be provided as financial assistance to the family of the slain businessman, who was the father of a 10-month-old baby boy. Later, Waqas was laid to rest in the Paharganj cemetery amidst a somber atmosphere.