KARACHI: Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh of the Sindh High Court on Tuesday directed the police to complete investigation into the alleged torture of Parveen Rind, the house officer of the Peoples University of Medical and Health Science for Women (PUMHSW), Shaheed Benazirabad district, within 15 days.

The DIG and SSP concerned as well as registrar of the university appeared before the chief justice along with reports on the matter. Ms Rind also turned up barefoot and appeared before the chief justice. However, the Shaheed Benazirabad deputy commissioner was found absent.

On Feb 12, the CJ had taken notice of media reports regarding the alleged torture of Ms Rind at the hands of three university officials and summoned the DIG, SSP, DC and registrar.

After the hearing, held in the chamber of the chief justice, DIG Khadim Hussain Rind said the CJ was informed that an FIR of the incident had already been registered and the complainant had been asked to provide evidence available with her to the police. He further stated that one of the nominated suspects obtained his protective bail from the high court yesterday [Feb 14].

The DIG said there was no delay made on the part of the police as a letter for medical examination of the complainant had been issued on the day the incident was claimed to have happened.

Ms Rind told the media that her life was in danger as she was receiving threats. She said she had requested the authorities concerned to transfer her to some other city.

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, taking notice of the threats to Ms Rind, said that foolproof security be provided to her.

Our Hyderabad correspondent adds: During his visit to the university on Tuesday to meet vice chancellor Dr Gulshan Memon, registrar Dr Qurban Ali Memon and other officials, as well as some students, in order to ascertain facts about the matter, DIG Khadim Rind expressed the view that an officer facing harassment charges should not be given any posting.

The DIG has formed a special team led by the Shaheed Benazirabad SSP and called a progress report of the matter.

According to the police officer, he in his report submitted in the high court stated that the probe team had informed him that Maryam Inayat, the investigation officer of the Parveen Rind case, visited scene of the alleged offence and prepared a memo of injury to the complainant in the presence of witnesses. She also recorded statement of prosecution witness Ali Nawaz Rind, the DIG quoted the probe team as telling him.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2022