05 February 2004	Thursday	13 Zilhaj 1424

THATTA, Feb 4: Nine policemen of the Mirpur Sakro police station were suspended on Tuesday following the registration of an FIR against them for arresting and torturing two political activists.

The suspended policemen included SHO Inam Junejo, ASI Dilsher Mahar, wireless operator Zulfiqar Chandio, two head constables and four constables.

Malik Anwar Awan, who took over the charge as the new SHO, told journalists that the police after registering a case against six political activists, Hassan Samejo, Sharif, Ishaq Mirbahar, Soofan, Urs and Abdul Hakeem Khaskheli, under section 353, PPC, had picked up two of them, Mirbahar and Khaskheli.

Police sources said the activists, who were intoxicated, had intercepted a police mobile in the town, used abusive language and forced the police to drop them individually at their houses on Eid day.

However, local Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Dildar Khaskheli termed the police version fabricated and alleged that the police, who wanted to collect extortion money, took the youths to the police station and tortured them to unconsciousness on their protest.

He said when he arrived at the police station he was not allowed to visit the youths. He said he then approached Nine Zero and home department authorities in Karachi after which Thatta DPO Nadir Hussain Khoso ordered the release of the activists and action against the policemen.