Sattar’s coordinator dies in Rangers custody; torture marks raise questions

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Farooq Sattar’s coordinator Aftab Ahmed, 42, who was under Rangers’ 90–day preventive detention, died on Tuesday; the party claiming as well as pictures and video clips revealing wounds on his body that suggest he was brutally tortured to death, but the paramilitary force maintains he died a natural death caused by a heart attack.

Speaking at Ahmed’s funeral, Sattar said Ahmed was picked by Rangers from his home in Federal B Area on Sunday while he was with his family even though there was no case registered against him at any police station.

He added that Rangers Sindh Director General Major Gen Bilal Akbar had told the party that Ahmed had died of cardiac arrest. “We had believed him at that time.”

Amir Khan, the party’s senior deputy convener, had also met with the Rangers director general at the paramilitary force’s headquarters and was informed that Ahmed’s condition was precarious because of a heart attack.

Sattar said Ahmed’s body was handed over to the MQM on Tuesday morning in a cascade.

“We found torture marks on his entire body, his nails were pulled out and his wounds were still bleeding. Media personnel also saw that,” he added.

He said the MQM had not issued any provocative statement and had asked its activists and supporters to remain calm. “We only want justice and demand a judicial inquiry into the case.”

Sattar appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan, the prime minister, the president and all other authorities concerned to form a commission to conduct a thorough inquiry into the case and punished those involved in Ahmed’s extrajudicial murder in accordance with the law.

He said 56 MQM supporters were missing. “A state operation is under way against the MQM under the garb of the crackdown on criminals.”

Rangers’ version

Rangers said Ahmed was arrested by the paramilitary force on May 1 in the Federal B Area over suspicion of his involvement in various crimes.

He was produced before an anti-terrorism court which had endorsed his 90-preventive detention.

On Tuesday morning, Ahmed had complained of chest pain after which he was immediately taken to a hospital where he died during the treatment.

Additional police surgeon Dr Kaleem Shaikh said Ahmed was brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre at about 7:55am on Tuesday and admitted to its emergency ward where he died at around 8:20am.

Later, a medical board was formed in the presence of Judicial Magistrate South-VIII Kaleemullah Kalwar. The medical team comprised Dr Kaleem Shaikh, Dr Ejaz and Dr Sona Mal of the Jinnah Medical University.

Ahmed’s postmortem started at 2:30pm and lasted till 4pm.

Dr Shaikh said the cause of Ahmed’s death would be revealed later after the results of samples for a chemical examination including histopathology were received. He added that during the examination, torture marks were seen on the body.

MQM rejects claim

MQM convener Nadeem Nusrat rejected the Rangers claims and demanded that the higher authorities and international human rights bodies should take notice of the incident. He said the postmortem was conducted in the presence of Rangers and during that process, doctors and other JPMC staff were asked to leave the room so that a fake report could be issued.

He said there was undeniable evidence of torture on the body and it could be presented before any court in the world.

Seemi Jamali of the JPMC said cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on Ahmed when he was brought to the hospital on Tuesday morning at around 7am, but he had no pulse at that time.

She added that doctors pronounced him dead at 7:45am after failing to resuscitate him.

Ahmed’s death occurred on a day when the MQM was planning to stage a protest outside the Karachi Press Club against the illegal arrests of its office-bearers, activists and supporters. The party had to postpone the protest following Ahmed’s death. Later, it was staged near Numaish Chowrangi where Ahmed’s funeral prayers were offered in the presence of thousands of MQM activists and supporters. MQM information cell in-charge Amin-ul-Haq told The News that Ahmed had left behind his wife and five children - two daughters and three sons. He was buried at the Shuhda graveyard in Yasinabad.

Day of mourning

The MQM has announced a day of mourning on Wednesday (today) in reaction to Ahmed’s death and said it would be a peaceful protest with all business centres remaining open. The party would hoist black flags at its offices and its leaders and activists would wear black armband.

Fateha will be offered at the MQM headquarters, Nine-Zero, and other areas of the city.

Security beefed up

The Karachi police chief has ordered strict security measures across the city on Wednesday in connection with the day of mourning announced by the MQM.

Police will increase patrolling, carry out random snap-checking, and set up pickets and blockades to prevent any untoward incident from occurring.