Sindh IGP orders inquiry against CTD SSP

KARACHI: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh has ordered an inquiry against SSP Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) for illegally arresting, detaining and torturing a trader.

On the written complaint of businessman Abbasullah, Home Secretary Sindh Muhammad Iqbal Memon directed IGP Sindh Raja Riffat Mukhtar to inquire the matter.

In his complaint, the trader levelled allegations against SSP Fida Hussain Shah of illegally arresting him, keeping in detention and committing torture.

He alleged that SSP Fida Hussain Shah demanded his bank account for transaction of funds as well as blank cheques. On his refusal, he got him illegally arrested, detained and tortured.

Sources of the Sindh Police confirmed the illegal arrest and detention of trader Abbasullah and said he was released after the intervention of the IGP Sindh.

It is pertinent to mention, SSP Fida Hussain Shah was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Accountability Court of Karachi on charges of corruption in 2018. Later, he was freed and reinstated after his conviction was quashed by Sindh High Court.

Commenting upon the matter, SSP Fida Hussain Shah said that CTD had received terror funding information against Abbasullah and the CTD detained him after completing all legal procedures. He alleged that Abbasullah had connections with Baloch terrorists and he had been funding them for their terrorist activities. He added though he has been freed, the investigation is underway.

SSP Shah termed allegations against him as fake and said it is an attempt to suppress the investigation against Abbasullah.

On the other hand, Abbasullah told The News that all allegations levelled by the SSP were fake and fabricated. “I am a big taxpayer and doing legitimate business having a paper factory at Hub, Balochistan, where SSP Shah had visited many times, and when he observed big banking transactions he demanded to allow him to use my business bank accounts for his personal business transactions. However, when I refused to his illegal demand, SSP Shah got him arrested, detained and tortured by misusing his official position,” said Abbasullah.

The trader added that he approached the Sindh IGP, DIG CTD, and the Home Secretary Sindh, submitted his complaint and demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter.

Abbasullah said that despite his release from the illegal detention of CTD, he faced death threats and fake cases.

In order to get the official version of the Sindh Police and CTD, this scribe attempted to contact Sindh IGP Raja Riffat, DIG CTD Asif Aijaz Shaikh and Spokesman of Sindh Police Saad Ali but failed to get any response till filling of the news story.