HYDERABAD, Dec 13: Dr Noshad Walyani who was booked in a blasphemy case was released by Cantonment police on Monday, according to sources.

But police refused to confirm or deny his release.

Mr Walyani was booked under Section 295-C on the complaint of Mohammad Faizan in FIR no 306/2010 on Saturday after he was handed over to police by a group of enraged representatives of different pharmaceutical companies for his alleged blasphemous remarks.

Supervisory Police Officer (SPO) Cantonment Bilal Umer, who heard the two parties before registration of the case on Saturday, claimed that the case would be investigated by an SP. When he was contacted on Monday for update in the case, he said: “I call you back to discuss it.” But he didn’t respond since then.

Dr Walyani was shifted to the CIA centre of Hyderabad in an armoured personnel carrier soon after the FIR’s registration.

A police source claimed that he was released on Monday morning. It is not known whether any remand was obtained for his police custody before the release.

The incident took place on Dec 9 and the complainant lodged the case on Dec 11 following consultation with his friends who had gathered outside Cantonment police station.

Complainant’s cellphone was also found off.

PMA PLEA: The Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association has called for a judicial inquiry into the allegation against Dr Noshad Walyani. Office-bearers of the association said at a press conference in Karachi on Monday that the association was concerned over the ‘orchestrated incident’, urging the authorities to ensure security of life to Mr Walyani.

The PMA called for a judicial inquiry into the violence against Dr Walyani and arrest of those who physically abused him.