LAHORE, March 8: The death of Agha Mohammad Sajjad in NAB custody adds to many existing anxieties about methods of interrogation used by the controversial bureau. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said here on Monday in a press statement.

The HRCP said the frequent misuse of power by the bureau officials was a major source of concern for all. Condoling the death of the PTCL official, it demanded a judicial probe into the incident and asked for final preparation of a report in the shortest possible time.

"Given the past official record of institutional brutality and deception, the claim by NAB that Agha Sajjad suffered a heart attack during interrogation and died on his way to hospital is hard to believe. The departmental inquiry by NAB will enjoy a little credibility," it said.

A prominent PPP worker had died in NAB custody in similar circumstances some three years ago. The findings of a judicial probe ordered at that time were still to be made public, it claimed.

The fact that NAB, set up to tackle the very real problem of corruption, was increasingly being used to victimize and harass political opponents of the government too was a matter that needed to be taken up in earnest. "It is time the bureau should be replaced by an independent body regulated by due process of law," the HRCP demanded.