KARACHI, March 11: A man died in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency, passport cell, on Wednesday night. The Preedy police quoting FIA officials said Aslam Masih, 48, was called in by the agency for some inquiries, when he felt pain in his chest.

He was taken to private hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the police said and added that later, his body was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Hospital sources said FIA officials left the body and immediately went away.

Passport Cell Deputy Director Abdul Malik told Dawn that Aslam Masih went to the United States in 1997 by a ship, Malakand, chartered by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.

In the US, he was caught carrying 2kg of heroin and sentenced. He served a six-year term in Houston Jail. He landed at Karachi Airport on Feb 21, from where he was referred to the immigration and passport cell. Later he was released on bail.

In the meantime, the Anti-Narcotics Force approached the FIA as Aslam was wanted by it in a narcotics case, No.23/99, with Habibur Rehman. He was called to the passport cell on Wednesday evening, from where the ANF was supposed to take him. At the cell, Aslam complained of chest pain and was taken to the Naveed Clinic, where he was pronounced dead, the deputy director said.

A medical board comprising Assistant Police Surgeon Dr Zulqifar Sial, Sindh Medical College Associate Professor Dr Maqdoom Pervaiz and JPMC Medico-Legal Officer Dr Abdul Shakoor Bhatti carried out the postmortem in the presence of a magistrate. Hospital sources said there were no apparent signs of torture or injury on the body. The autopsy report was reserved by the board.

ACCIDENTS: Four people died in road accidents in different parts of the city. A motorcyclist, Riffat, 30, died when he was hit by a bus of route 4-J at the Numaish traffic signal. The bus knocked down the traffic signal.