Torture allegations: Court allows MQM plea for private doctors in medical board

Aga Khan University Hospital chairperson requested by SHC to nominate four senior doctors to join the board.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) allowed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) request to include private doctors in the government-constituted medical board to examine its worker, Fahad Aziz, who was allegedly tortured in police custody.

On Friday, SHC Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar also directed the Aga Khan University Hospital chairperson to nominate four senior surgeons and physicians, who would replace the junior members of the medical board, to examine the survivor within four days and submit a detailed report.

Fahad Aziz along with his father Abdul Aziz and MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar had filed a petition against SSP East Pir Muhammad Shah, Sharae Faisal SHO Faheem Farooqui and others. “The respondents have recently unleashed a reign of torture against the inhabitants of urban Sindh, targeting the MQM and its workers,” Fahad’s lawyer, Dr Farogh Naseem, had alleged.

The judges were informed that around eight party workers have been killed while over 45 have gone missing. It was requested that the police compensate Fahad for torturing him in custody.

During the last hearing, the SHC judges had ordered the provincial health secretary to constitute a medical board tasked to examine Fahad to determine the nature of the injuries and the allegations of torture. The board was directed to file its report within two weeks. On Friday, Sindh Advocate General Abdul Fateh Malik submitted a copy of the official notification to form a medical board, comprising eight senior doctors and professors. “The board is tasked to examine the victim at 10am today [Friday],” he added.

Naseem said that it would be appropriate that the composition of the board be varied in such a manner that its four junior-most members are replaced with senior doctors.

The two-judges, while allowing the request with the consent of all the parties, requested the Aga Khan University Hospital chairperson to nominate four senior doctors to join the board.

“Such be done at the earliest and preferably within four days from today,” said Justice Baqar. The bench ordered Fahad to appear before the board at the venue and date to be also notified by the secretary through a notification.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2014.