KARACHI: Tariq Mehboob, the chief of the Anjuman-i-Naujawanan-i-Islam and deputy secretary general of the Sunni Ittehad Council, died on Saturday just a couple of days after the Rangers informed an antiterrorism court of his 90-day detention for interrogation.

Officials said Mr Mehboob died of a ‘cardiac arrest’ in the central prison, while his family blamed the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, for ‘severe torture’ that claimed his life.

In his early 50s, the ANI chief had been picked up from his residence in block 16 of Federal B. Area on April 12.

The paramilitary force produced him along with four other suspects before an ATC, informing the court about their 90-day preventive detention for questioning under Section 11EEEE, Subsection 3 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

“The jail administration says that he suffered a cardiac arrest and was provided first aid but he could not survive and could not be moved to hospital,” said DSP Nasir Lodhi of New Town who looks after policing matters inside the prison.

“The jail administration informed us about the death in the afternoon,” he added.

The body was later moved to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for medico-legal formalities, the officer said, and simultaneously his family was informed. A large number of relatives and workers of his party gathered outside the mortuary where some enraged activists chanted slogans.

There was no word from the central prison as the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, spokesman categorically denied his death in the custody of the paramilitary force.

Mr Mehboob was arrested for his alleged involvement in criminal activities, the spokesman stated. “The accused was sent to jail for 90 days preventive detention by anti-terrorism court on April 16 after completing all legal formalities for further investigation by joint interrogation team (JIT),” said a Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, statement.

“He was handed over to the authorities of the central jail the very same day. It is further clarified that he did not die in the Pakistan Rangers custody but in central jail of Karachi.”

The paramilitary force statement, however, could not convince the victim’s family and party leaders who blamed the law enforcement agencies and the Sindh government which did not take any notice of their complaints and concerns during his detention.

“My brother was diabetic and cardiac patient,” said his brother Ishtiaq Mehboob. “We formally informed the authorities about his ill health but they never paid heed. I met him twice during his detention and he told me about the torture and harsh attitude of the law enforcement agencies. We hold the law-enforcement agencies and Sindh government responsible for our brother’s death,” he said.

The JPMC medico-legal section seconded the Rangers and police version, citing that initial findings indicated Mr Mehboob died of cardiac arrest only. “There was no torture mark on his body,” said an official at the JPMC ML section. “We may arrive at some conclusion once the chemical examination is done, but so far nothing has emerged that may cast doubt about torture or external influence as the cause of his death.”

Meanwhile, Sahibzada Hamid Raza of the Sunni Ittehad Council — an umbrella organisation of parties belonging to mainly Barelvi school of thought — strongly condemned the ‘killing’ of Mr Mehboob.

He demanded a probe into the incident by an independent investigation team.

“Now it’s up to the Sindh government to prove transparency of the ongoing operation in Karachi. If the Sindh government fails to do so, it will lend strength to our concerns and reservations about the ongoing operation,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

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