In court: Inquiry rules out MQM allegations of custodial torture on activist
Party had accused law enforcers of torturing one of its activists to death.
In the light of the post-mortem report, the death does not appear to be a result of torture says the committee. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed on Tuesday that an inquiry has ruled out the allegations that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) activist was tortured to death during police custody.
The body of MQM activist Muhammad Salman alias Suleman was found dumped last month. A senior superintendent of the police for South district, Nasir Aftab, shared these findings while submitting a report of the committee, which was constituted by the Sindh IGP, to probe into the MQM's allegations of torture.
Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, the bench was hearing a petition seeking inquiry into alleged the torturing to death of MQM activist Salman. The 33-year-old activist and employee of Civil Hospital, Karachi, was going to work with his nephew, Noman, on a motorcycle when some law enforcers intercepted them near the Malir River on February 3.
The inquiry committee examined the police officers dealing with the murder case but the relatives of the deceased did not turn up to record their version of the incident, the officer shared. He informed that the post-mortem report issued by the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre's medico-legal officer, Dr Afzal, found no torture marks on the body of the deceased. Similarly, the report of the chemical examiner had also not found any traces of torture.
"In the light of the post-mortem report, the death does not appear to be a result of torture and the chemical examination report also supports the findings," the inquiry committee's report stated. It further said there is no evidence to establish the deceased was picked up by the law enforcers.
The report stated that the FIR No. 28, 2014, under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code had already been lodged at the Shah Latif Town police station, which has set the wheels of the criminal justice system into motion, adding that now it is the duty of the investigation officer to finalise the investigations on merits.
The inquiry committee urged that the victim's relatives be directed to cooperate with the investigation officer to bring on record any evidence, if they have.
Compensation
Meanwhile, the petitioner's lawyer Syed Ali Hasnain requested the court order the government pay compensation to the family of the victim, as the court had already ordered in three identical cases last year. The bench with the consent of the lawyers adjourned the hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2014.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) was informed on Tuesday that an inquiry has ruled out the allegations that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) activist was tortured to death during police custody.
The body of MQM activist Muhammad Salman alias Suleman was found dumped last month. A senior superintendent of the police for South district, Nasir Aftab, shared these findings while submitting a report of the committee, which was constituted by the Sindh IGP, to probe into the MQM's allegations of torture.
Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, the bench was hearing a petition seeking inquiry into alleged the torturing to death of MQM activist Salman. The 33-year-old activist and employee of Civil Hospital, Karachi, was going to work with his nephew, Noman, on a motorcycle when some law enforcers intercepted them near the Malir River on February 3.
The inquiry committee examined the police officers dealing with the murder case but the relatives of the deceased did not turn up to record their version of the incident, the officer shared. He informed that the post-mortem report issued by the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre's medico-legal officer, Dr Afzal, found no torture marks on the body of the deceased. Similarly, the report of the chemical examiner had also not found any traces of torture.
"In the light of the post-mortem report, the death does not appear to be a result of torture and the chemical examination report also supports the findings," the inquiry committee's report stated. It further said there is no evidence to establish the deceased was picked up by the law enforcers.
The report stated that the FIR No. 28, 2014, under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code had already been lodged at the Shah Latif Town police station, which has set the wheels of the criminal justice system into motion, adding that now it is the duty of the investigation officer to finalise the investigations on merits.
The inquiry committee urged that the victim's relatives be directed to cooperate with the investigation officer to bring on record any evidence, if they have.
Compensation
Meanwhile, the petitioner's lawyer Syed Ali Hasnain requested the court order the government pay compensation to the family of the victim, as the court had already ordered in three identical cases last year. The bench with the consent of the lawyers adjourned the hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2014.