LAHORE, May 17: Condemning the police torture of MNA Saad Rafiq, parliamentary leaders of the PML-N and the PPP said on Wednesday they would protest in the upcoming session of the Punjab Assembly.

Rana Sanaullah, Qasim Zia and other leaders of the two parties said at a news conference that a delegation would meet the inspector-general of police on Thursday to apprise him of the situation.

PML-N secretary-general Zaeem Qadri said the Supreme Court should take a suo motu notice of the matter and order an inquiry by a high court judge.

The leaders of the two parties alleged that Saad had been arrested on the basis of baseless charges and when the court allowed him bail, he was arrested in another case. This was nothing but state terrorism, Rana Sana said, adding the state terrorism could lead to civil disobedience.

MNA Malik Pervaiz, Dr Asad Ashraf, Bilal Yasin, Mehr Ishtiaq, Ajasam Sharif and others were also present at the news conference.

Saad also issued a statement explaining how he was picked up from the Sarwar Road police station and subjected to torture for some five hours at the Qila Gujjar Singh police investigation headquarters. He said an insulting language was used for him.

He said if the Punjab government was not directly involved in the torture, it should suspend from service the SSP investigation and other officials involved in the incident and an inquiry be ordered against them.

Meanwhile, police have denied that they had tortured Khwaja Saad Rafiq. —Staff Reporter