KARACHI: The city police authorities on Tuesday informed the Sindh High Court that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist who was picked up when he was escorting home his bride from the wedding ceremony and then allegedly subjected to torture was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Feb 4 killing of four policemen.

A two-judge bench was seized with the petition of the MQM against alleged extrajudicial killings and torture of party workers by the law-enforcement agencies.

The petition was jointly filed by MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, party worker Fahad Aziz and his father, who cited the interior secretary, home secretary, Rangers director general, inspector general of police, Additional IG Shahid Hayat, SSP-East and Sharea Faisal SHO as respondents.

On Tuesday, SSP-East Pir Muhammed Shah filed his comments in the petition stating that Fahad Aziz was arrested along with his driver on Feb 8 under Section 54 (when police may arrest without warrant) of the criminal procedure code by the Shah Faisal Colony police after they received secret information about his involvement in various heinous crimes, including the recent targeted killing of four policemen in the Ibrahim Hyderi police jurisdiction.

The police officer further submitted in his comments that the Muttahida worker during interrogation had confessed to the killing of policemen. He said that the suspect during interrogation complained of being unwell and he was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Later, the SSP said, the Muttahida worker was released on surety of MNA Iqbal Ali.

He further submitted that the police team members who picked up the Muttahida man and allegedly tortured him were placed under suspension and a high-level inquiry was initiated to probe the allegations.

The advocate general and the deputy attorney general sought time for filing replies of other respondents. The bench directed them to furnish the replies of the remaining respondents within 15 days.

On an application of the petitioners, the bench directed the provincial health secretary to constitute a medical board comprising senior doctors for conducting a thorough medical examination of the Muttahida worker and to submit a detailed and comprehensive report regarding the state of health and injuries that he might have suffered during the alleged police torture.

According to the petitioners’ counsel, Dr Faroogh Naseem, the law enforcement agencies had unleashed a campaign of terror on the urban population, especially the MQM workers.

He said that about eight people from Karachi had been killed extra-judicially in the recent past, while about 45 persons were still missing.

Dr Naseem referred to the murder of party worker Muhammad Salman and said that the victim was picked up by the personnel of the law enforcement agencies, who extra-judicially killed him.

He said that the police picked up petitioner Fahad Aziz when he was going home after his wedding, adding that he was detained by police who subjected him to torture and demanded a bribe for his release.

The Muttahida counsel said that later Fahad was admitted to a hospital in Gulistan-i-Jauhar by the Sharea Faisal SHO, who alleged that Fahad was hospitalised for having pain in the stomach.

He asked the court to order the provincial authorities to pay compensation to the victim and lodge an FIR against police officials.

The hearing was adjourned to a date to be later announced by the court’s office.