HYDERABAD, July 21: Deputy Chief of the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) Najeeb Danewala got recorded a detailed account in the court of Additional Judge-II (ADJ) Aijaz Khaskheli on Saturday of a May 30 incident in which Dr Aftab Qureshi was killed.

He also submitted the CPLC Chief Ahmed Chinoy’s application asking the court to excuse him as he was in Dubai.

Mr Danewala said that he tried to contact SSP Hyderabad by phone before leaving Karachi but couldn’t.

Court adjourned the proceedings to Wednesday when the SP Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) Noorul Hund will depose.SHO Humayun of Brigade police station Karachi and Dr Rauf of Neurology Department of Liqauat Medical University Hospital also testified.

Mr Danewala was summoned on the insistence of Dr Aftab’s son Abdul Qadir Qureshi.

Mr Danewala gave an overview of the kidnapping case and submitted phone calls data.

He said that he kept Abdul Qadir engaged in negotiations because kidnappers were demanding a huge ransom. “Abdul Qadir lodged an FIR on my insistence and we traced the locations of phones through which calls were made to him.”

Ashok disclosed the Qasimabad hideout of kidnappers to SP AVCC Ghulam Subhani by phone where Dr Aftab Qureshi and his (Ashok’) mother were kept hostage. He insisted immediate action on fears hostages may be shifted to Jacobabad. The CPLC confirmed Ashok’s cell phone location at the hideout.

Ahmed Chinoy tried to contact SSP Hyderabad and on failure left Karachi with around 20 uniformed policemen, Mr Danewala said.

Ashok told us that there was a lone kidnapper but with two weapons.

Mr Chinoy on reaching Hyderabad called one of his local members who gave full information of the hideout after thorough survey but again couldn’t get in touch with city’s DIG and SSP.

‘‘We sought assistance of local police but only one mobile arrived from the concerned police station. The AVCC force couldn’t enter the house or the rooftop as both were locked,’’ he said.

Kidnappers sensing the danger began firing from all sides giving impression as if there were more than one people.

Ashok when asked on phone to open the door expressed fear he may be shot dead.

Ashok and his mother emerged out from the room when ASI broke open the lock of grilled gate. They said that kidnappers had gunned down Dr Aftab Qureshi.” Ashok and his mother were taken into custody and his cell phone seized.

ASI Rashid received bullets when he and a constable entered into the house and his body couldn’t be retrieved because of firing from the inside, he said.

Afterwards kidnappers in a bid to flee were ambushed by officials of local police station. Later, police found Dr Aftab’s body with a smashed skull.

SSP Hyderabad was handed over the weapons used in the operation and Ashok was taken to the CIA centre for interrogation.