Police shut hotel over KU professor assault
University of Karachi’s Islamic Learning Department Chairman Dr Professor Arif Khan Saqi. SCREENGRAB
Police on Thursday shut down the Sindh Green Hotel near Safoora Chowrangi following the alleged assault of Karachi University Professor Dr Arif Khan Saqi and his nephew by the hotel owner's son and his armed guards.
Sachal Investigation Police In-charge Inspector Pervez Mirani said a heavy contingent of police, acting on the directives of SSP East Usman Sadozai, surrounded the hotel and closed it. Police personnel have also been deployed at the premises.
He said the action was taken as part of the investigation into the assault case, in which five suspects had so far been arrested and were on police remand. Raids are continuing to arrest other suspects. The main nominated suspect, Konain, has obtained pre-arrest bail in the case registered over the assault on Prof Saqi, chairperson of KU's Department of Islamic Learning.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Sindh Green Hotel at Safoora Chowrangi following a dispute over a vehicle collision.
According to the FIR and Prof Saqi's account, a double-cabin vehicle emerging from the hotel allegedly damaged the bonnet of a car being driven by his nephew, Muhammad Waheed, who works as a driver for an online ride-hailing service. When he asked the occupants to compensate for the damage, the situation escalated.
Prof Saqi alleged that he and his nephew were then attacked with pistol butts by the occupants and their guards. He further alleged that they were dragged into the hotel, where they were allegedly held against their will and assaulted again.
Police subsequently registered a case on Prof Saqi's complaint under Sections 147, 148, 149, 324 and 342 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Three suspects were initially detained in connection with the incident, while the hotel owner's son, named as the main suspect, was reported to have fled.
The incident had also drawn condemnation from the Karachi University Teachers' Association, which called for action against those responsible for allegedly assaulting and unlawfully detaining the professor.
The Sindh home minister had taken notice of the incident and sought a report from the SSP East regarding the assault and legal proceedings. Investigation police said the probe was continuing and further arrests were expected.