In ATC, Rangers claim evidence exists for hospital director’s 90-day detention

Say assistant finance director of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital was involved in incidents of targeted killings, extortion

KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers informed an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday about the preventive three-month detention of a high ranking official serving at one of the city’s main public health facilities.

The Sachal wing of the law enforcement agency produced Faridudin, the assistant finance director of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, before the ATC-II, claiming they had ‘credible information’ against the suspect for his alleged involvement in the incidents of targeted killing and extortion.

“Faridudin was arrested from Liaquatabad Wednesday,” a paramilitary force’s attorney escorted by an official submitted before the judge. “He has been taken into custody for 90 days under section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act.”

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The suspect was defended by the legal aid committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). His attorney, Advocate Jiwani, opposed the prosecution’s assertion, arguing that his client had been abducted on May 25.

“Faridudin was on his way back to home from work when some armed men intercepted him and muffled him,” he maintained before the judge, adding that his mobile phone had been taken away from him and he was driven to an unknown place.

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“A petition (3009/15) regarding him gone missing was filed with the Sindh High Court by his wife, Farheen, the very next day of his abduction,” he said. “Until today, he had been detained illegally.”

The judge, however, did not issue an order forthwith as under the particular section, armed forces are empowered to detain any person, whom they suspect has links with a terrorist outfit, for a period of three months.