Police to lodge complaint against Rangers for detaining MQM men 'illegally'

A division bench passes directives while hearing dozens of the cases relating to the detention of various citizens

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the police authorities to record the statements of the relatives of three missing persons and to register a complaint against Rangers officials if it is established that they detaining the activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) illegally.

A division bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, passed these directives while hearing dozens of the cases relating to the detention of various citizens, mostly MQM activists by the Rangers.

Petitioner Muhammad Iqbal had claimed that his 31-year-old brother, Muhammad Majid, was taken into custody by the Sindh Rangers during a raid on his Jacob Lines residence on March 27. Majid was an employee of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board. The family has no clue about his whereabouts and when they approached Brigade police to register an FIR, the officer refused to entertain their request, said Iqbal.

Read: Work of rangers : PBC passes resolution in favour of Karachi ops

The petitioner's lawyer had contended that the police officials are not entertaining their requests to record their statement. During Thursday's proceedings, Brigade police station's additional house officer Muhammad Asif appeared before the bench and assured that they will record the statement of the petitioner whenever he approaches them.

"Be as it may, the petitioner is directed to appear before the Respondent 4 (Brigade SHO) for recording the statement and if a cognisable offence is made out FIR will be lodged," ordered the two judges.

Read: ATC hands over MQM sector incharge to Rangers on 90-day remand

Adjourning the hearing till August 6, the bench directed the Additional SHO Asif to submit a compliance report.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2015.