ISLAMABAD, May 8: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Sindh chief secretary to appear on Tuesday and explain why a contempt of the court proceedings should not be initiated against him for interfering in the court affairs.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was informed about presence of secret torture cells being maintained by police officers of the Mirpurkhas district.

The chief secretary was summoned by the court to appear before it when it was informed that DIG Saleemullah Khan had been transferred and made an officer on special duty on April 27, 2006.

On court’s order, DIG Saleemullah Khan was probing allegations of torture of Naeem Arian, a poultry dealer, and abduction of a peasant family by a Wadera of Sindh, Abdul Rehman Marri.

The Sindh High Court had cancelled the bail of Mr Marri two days before the transfer of Saleemullah.

“Since police torture of a citizen is a very serious matter, the Sindh IGP is directed to entrust a senior officer as recommended by DIG Saleemullah in his report to investigate, compile report within a fortnight and submit challans against culprits” the court observed.

Saleemullah will supervise the investigations.

In the meanwhile, the court will await the report of a judicial inquiry also probing into torture of Naeem Arian.

When assistant advocate-general of Sindh, Kazi Khalid, told the court that the inquiry had been marked to a new DIG Mirpurkhas Rasool Bux Sand, the CJ observed that the Sindh administration was violating and interfering into court’s affairs.

“Even if the Sindh chief minister is causing hindrance”, the CJ asked Kazi Khalid and added that “no one is above the law”.

In his report, Saleemullah Khan stated that he raided and discovered secret torture cells being maintained by the Mirpurkhas police officers.

Consequently, four SHOs allegedly maintaining these cells were booked and suspended.

On Monday, Naeem Arian appeared before the court to narrate his ordeal stating that he was thrown at some secluded place after brutally torturing him.

He was then taken to the Mirpurkhas Civil Hospital by someone.

On medical examination, doctors also confirmed that he was the victim of severe torture.

“I was burnt with cigarette butts on different parts of the body including private parts in such a manner that being a gentleman he can not explain in front of the court,” he said.

He is also not maintaining a good health and suffering from ailments, he said.

Saleemullah Khan contended that police officers involved in the torture could not be arrested though they were roaming freely because they enjoyed political clout in the area.

Investigations have also been transferred to the Crime Branch Hyderabad.

Regarding Abdul Rehman Marri, involved in the detention of a nine-member hari family of Munnu Bheel from Mirpurkhas, the DCO informed the court that Mr Marri had no movable or immovable properties in the area.

The fact was disputed by DIG Saleemullah by stating that he was the most landed person in the area.

The court had sought complete immigration record along with passport, ticket number of Marri and details of his property.

DIG Saleemullah also told the court that FIA records showed that he had not left for Saudi Arabia and was still living somewhere in the country.

The court had initiated the case of Munnu Bheel on an application of a Swedish human rights activist, Torborg Isakssan.