KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday ordered the health secretary to induct two senior doctors nominated by the Aga Khan University Hospital and two senior radiologists of the provincial health department in the medical board formed by the provincial government for a medical examination of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist who had been picked up and then allegedly subjected to torture by the law enforcers.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar was seized with a petition of the MQM against alleged extrajudicial killings and torture of party workers by the law-enforcement agencies.

On Tuesday, a statement of the director general of the AKUH was placed on record that Dr Inam Pal, senior surgeon, and Dr Mansoor Umer, senior orthopaedic surgeon, had been nominated for the special medical board.

The bench also directed the health secretary to include two senior radiologists in the board to carry out necessary tests/examinations for the purpose.

The board was directed to submit its findings within 10 days.

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.

Earlier, Advocate General Abdul Fatah Malik placed on record the provincial government’s notification issued for the constitution of the eight-member medical board to examine the health condition of the Muttahida worker.

The bench directed the AKUH chairman to nominate four senior surgeons and physicians to join the medial board.

It also directed the provincial health secretary to issue fresh notification regarding the constitution of board after receiving nominations from the AKUH.

On Feb 11, the court on an application of the petitioner’s counsel had ordered the constitution of medical board 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.

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

The Muttahida counsel said that Fahad was later 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 March 21.