KARACHI, Dec 10: The Sindh home department has appointed Javed Iqbal, Judicial Magistrate, Karachi East, inquiry officer to hold an inquiry into the alleged killing of Zameer Husain in Nasir Colony police station.

The terms of reference of the judicial inquiry shall be as under:-

To ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of Zameer Husain, to ascertain lapses on the part of police officials of Nasir Colony police station, to fix responsibility on the part of police officers/officials, directly or indirectly involved in the death and to recommend action to be taken against the responsible officers/officials.

The inquiry officer will submit his report within four weeks to the Sindh home department.- APP

Zameer Husain, 26, who was picked up by police for keeping illegal weapon, had been shifted to jail a day before he died on May 11, our staff reporter adds.

He was grilled in Nasir Colony police chowki and Korangi police station as police had obtained his remand from a court. After completion of the remand period, police delayed his shifting to Landhi jail on the pretext of procedural formalities.

The family contended that Ali Murad and Mohammed Bakhsh of the Korangi police had picked up Zamir about 15 days back. Police did not allow the family to meet him for three days and kept him in Nasir Colony police chowki. Later, he was shifted to Korangi police station.

The family claimed that police had subjected Zameer to so severe torture that it resulted in his death. Zameer was innocent and he was not involved in any criminal activity.

The family had claimed that police had forced them to pay Rs250,000 for his release. A deal was struck at Rs45,000 which was paid to police, but Zameer was not released, the family said.

However, police had claimed that they had handed over Zameer to the jail authorities who did not object to his health condition. Police denied subjecting Zameer to torture.

A judicial inquiry had been ordered into the alleged custodial death of Zameer on May 14, following which suspension orders of Mohammed Bakhsh, in charge of Nasir Colony police chowki, were issued.