KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, on Tuesday said it had suspended and arrested five paramilitary soldiers a week after Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had ordered an inquiry into the custodial death of Muttahida Qaumi Movement worker Aftab Ahmed.

Earlier, the Rangers only mentioned suspension of unspecified number of paramilitary soldiers “possibly involved in the incident” and formed a probe body.

“Among the five personnel, two are [officials] in charge and three are soldiers,” said Rangers director general Major General Bilal Akbar while talking to a TV channel.

“They all have been suspended and arrested. We are determined to meet every requirement of justice and we would move forward in line with the defined laws and rules. Our investigation in this regard will definitely meet the logical end.”

Amid growing controversy and criticism over the death of Mr Ahmed in the Rangers custody, the army chief had ordered the inquiry. Initial findings of his autopsy confirmed the MQM allegations that his body had “multiple bruises” and “clotted blood spots”.

The party, which welcomed the army chief move and Rangers DG directives, on Tuesday criticised the Sindh government for asking Mr Ahmed’s family to lodge a case against the paramilitary force instead of pursing the case on their own.

The MQM coordination committee strongly condemned the provincial home ministry for asking the MQM or Aftab Ahmed’s family to lodge the FIR against the extra-judicial killing in Rangers’ custody rather than pursuing the case, according to the MQM statement. “The coordination committee said that the Sindh home ministry’s stand clearly showed clumsy attempt to manipulate facts of the incidents. It said it was more than a week now and it was proved that innocent Aftab Ahmed was brutally tortured and killed in Rangers’ custody.”

Over 800 ‘hitmen’ held

Meanwhile, the Rangers claimed to have arrested more than 800 ‘target-killers’, who had killed over 7,000 people in Karachi, since the launch of the operation in September 2013.

“The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, launched the operation in line with the Supreme Court orders against militant wings of political, religious and banned organisations,” said the Pakistan Rangers statement. “Since September 5, 2013 when the operation was launched, the Rangers have arrested total 848 target-killing suspects, who had killed 7,224 people. After due legal formalities, these suspects were handed over to the police.”

The Rangers also appealed to the people to call its helpline 1101, send messages on ‘Rangers Madadgar’ over its WhatsApp number 0316-2369996 or send emails at rangers.madadgar@gmail.com to share any information about criminal activities or lodge their complaints with the paramilitary force.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2016