In his statement, Umer said that the Rangers forcibly took him away, tortured him and after three hours, handed him over to the police. PHOTO: FILE
The court, while directing the Quaidabad SHO to appear before court to record his statement regarding the complainant’s illegal detention at Quaidabad police station, has ordered the Sukkan SHO to ensure the safety of his life and property.
Umer recorded his statement before the Malir district and sessions judge, Muhammad Yamin, where he alleged that he was tortured, harassed and blackmailed by Colonel Aftab, posted at Bhittai Rangers’ headquarters in Majeed Colony over the recovery of Rs5.5 million from a business associate, Shahid Aleem.
Umer told the court that Aleem had initially involved the colonel in the matter when he was asked to clear his dues. The colonel had allegedly directed Rangers personnel to abduct him and take him to the headquarters where he was harassed and pressured into taking back the case against Aleem. Following the incident, Umer had filed an application against the colonel in Sindh High Court (SHC) on January 29 earlier this year. Subsequently, the SHC had directed the Malir district and sessions judge to take necessary action in this regard.
Two days prior to the general elections, Rangers officials had allegedly broken into his house and taken away his licensed weapons while his calls to the police had gone unanswered, he said. “I have CCTV footage of the incident and call record data to support my claim,” said Umer while talking to The Express Tribune.
In his statement, Umer said that the Rangers forcibly took him away, tortured him and after three hours, handed him over to the police. From there, the bailiff of the court on the application of Umer’s brother, released the detainee from the police custody under section 491 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Before undergoing treatment at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Umer went to the Karachi Press Club to register a protest against his manhandling at the hands of the Rangers.
The bailiff stated in his report that the detainee was kept in a room adjacent to the SHO’s office, adding that there was no record of FIR or roznamcha entry in police record against the detainee. The bailiff, while directing the duty officer to release Umer, had also directed SHO to appear before the court in this regard.
“My nose and left hand’s finger was broken and I have severe pain in my backbone due to the torture by Rangers,” said Umer while sitting in a wheelchair wearing a plaster bandage on his left arm. Umer said that the Rangers were pressuring the SHO Quaidabad to register a case against him but the latter had refused to do so.
“I’m not against the Rangers but I wish to point out the man who is misusing his powers,” said Umer.
The Rangers spokesperson, Major Sibtain, when contacted by The Express Tribune, said that, “We are not aware of the case yet so we can’t comment on it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (2)
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i dont belive that rangers should do that.
Rangers should be packed and sent back to tents at border to do the jobs they were hired for. Unless this step is taken we will never see peace in our city.