Security reasons: Qamar Mansoor cannot be taken to the hospital, ATC told

Central jail officials cite insufficient number of personnel for not getting the detainee treated

KARACHI: Despite court orders, jail authorities did not take Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Qamar Mansoor to the hospital for security reasons, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) was informed on Wednesday.

In a letter, ATC-II was informed by the officials of the city's central jail, where Mansoor has been confined, that the suspect could not be taken to the hospital for medical treatment due to shortage of personnel.

Jail officials stated that a request to the office of the superintendent of the court police was sent for arranging the suspect's transportation to the hospital and his security there. However, the request has yet to be replied, the officials added.

The court had allowed Mansoor to seek treatment at a private hospital with directions to jail authorities to escort him there. The order came after a plea was moved by the MQM's legal aid committee, citing that the suspect was suffering from severe backbone pain and his condition worsened during his detention period.



Advocate Muhammad Jiwani, a member of the party's legal aid committee, said that this was a sheer violation of the law, tantamount to contempt of court. He alleged that Mansoor was being treated like a war criminal.

Addressing a press conference, MQM leader Waseem Akhtar also said that the authorities have violated courts orders by not admitting Qamar Mansoor to the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2015.