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HYDERABAD, March 22: The secretary general, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Ms Hina Jeelani, in a communication addressed to Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro, a copy of which has been obtained by Dawn, said that there were strong reasons for registration of a case and holding of a judicial inquiry into the custodial death of an under-trial prisoner, Mehmood Khoso.
She said that one Ghulam Rasool, a hari of Deh Ram Jogo, Samaro, Mirpurkhas District, has alleged that his cousin, Mehmood Khoso, was detained during a trail in the Hyderabad Central Jail for 22 months.
She said that he was produced in a court in Umerkot on March 14 and the next day he reportedly died in custody.
She said that a post-mortem was carried out and reportedly the 6th civil judge noted torture wounds on his body.
Ms Hina said that according to Mr Ghulam several detainees at the jail told him that Mr Mehmood died as a result of torture by the jail staff for his refusal to pay bribe.
She said that according to reports the police were declining to register an FIR.
She went on to say, “We are not in a position to vouch for the allegations made by Mr Ghulam but prima facie there are strong reasons for registering a case and holding a judicial inquiry.”
She has solicited the personal intervention of the governor in the matter.
SEA: Notwithstanding negotiations between the leaders of the Sindh Educational Alliance (SEA) and the Sindh minister for education, Ms Anita Ghulam Ali; the secretary, Nazar Hussain Mahar; the additional secretary and two deputy secretaries on March 20 at Karachi, the SEA has decided to continue protest till the issuance of notification about the acceptance of their demands and reinstatement of the sacked teachers.
A spokesman of the SEA told Dawn that negotiations were held on the 14-point memorandum already submitted to the government.
He said that the education minister would submit her report to the Sindh governor.
Meanwhile, the teachers and other members of the SEA continued their hunger strike outside the Hyderabad Press Club for the 5th consecutive day on Friday to press for the acceptance of their demands.
LABOURER APPEALS: A poor labourer of Aliabad Colony, Hala Naka, Suleman, along with his wife and five daughters, while addressing a press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club on Friday, appealed to President Pervez Musharraf, the Sindh governor and the additional IGP, Hyderabad Region, to protect his family members against the high-handedness of his master, Abdul Latif Abro, and Head Constable A. Ditto Siyal of the Baldia police station.
He said that Mr Abro had set up a fake organization and was harassing poor people so as to take over the possession of their huts.
He said that he was a poor labourer who worked late in the night.
He alleged that during his absence, Mr Abro, along with his cronies in a drunken state trespassed into his house and humiliated his wife and daughters.
He said he was supported by Head Constable Siyal.
He said that his son had been falsely implicated in a false narcotics case by both Mr Abro and Mr Siyal and the life of his family had been made miserable.
He appealed to the authorities to protect his family against the high-handedness of Mr Abro and Constable Siyal.
