POLICE BRUTALLY TORTURES ALI ASGHAR ZAIDI, THE JOINT UNIT IN-CHARGE OF THE LINES AREA UNIT BREAKING HIS BOTH LEGS IN CUSTODY OF THE STATE.
23 August 2001
On 15th August 2001, around midnight, the personnel of
the CIA (Crimes Investigation Agency) in plain clothes
arbitrarily arrested Asghar Ali Zaidi from Gulshan-e-Iqbal Disco
Bakery, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi while he was shopping for the
next mornings breakfast for the family, accompanied by his wife.
His personal details are as follows:
ALI ASGHAR ZAIDI, S/O QAMAR ALI ZAIDI (DECEASED), 35 YEARS, MARRIED AND A RESIDENT OF A2/190, G 28 QUARTERS, TUNISIA LINES, LINES AREA, KARACHI, PAKISTAN
After his arbitrary arrest, he was taken to the Preedy Police Station, Karachi where he was brutally tortured including hitting of continuous blows on his chest and knees by batons. His both legs have been broken and he is in a critical condition fighting for his life. Reportedly, the Police took him to the hospital where doctors confirmed the infliction of severe torture on him. However, the police took him back to the lock-up.
He is being kept in incommunicado detention and denied meetings with his family members including his wife and children His lawyers have also been denied access. He is being inhumanly tortured to force him to sign a pre-written confessional statement prepared by the State accepting crimes that he has not committed. The Military Regime with the view to malign the image of the MQM, nationally and internationally, has intensified the spate of mass arbitrary arrests of Mohajirs and the MQM workers and torture over them.
Articles 9 and 7 of the Constitution of Pakistan prohibits arbitrary arrests and torture and prescribes that no one can be detained for more than twenty-four (24) hours without being charged and produced in a Court of Law. Plethora of international laws, U N Conventions and Treaties also contain these provisions, which are respected in many parts of the world while totally disregarded in Pakistan, particularly in case of Mohajirs and the MQM detainees, who are being subjected to xenophobia and racism in Sindh province by the Punjabi Establishment, the colonialists. Statements under duress are unlawful and taken purely for victimising political opponents in Pakistan and particularly against the MQM.
TRUE TRANSLATION
Daily
Janbaz Karachi
23 AUGUST 2001
MY CHEST AND KNEES HAVE BEEN HIT BY BATONS (ALI ASGHAR ALIAS HYDER) --- DOCTORS CONFIRM TORTURE ON THE ACCUSED.
POLICE IN PREEDY POLICE STATION IN KARACHI BREAKS BOTH LEGS DURING TORTURE IN CUSTODY
Karachi (Crime Reporter) Preedy Police Station under the pretext of investigation, brutally tortured a leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), who was then taken to the hospital in a critical condition where the doctors duly confirmed the infliction of torture on him during the police custody.
According to the details, the Preedy Police Station, declared the arrest of the Joint Sector In-Charge of Muttahida Quami Movement Ali Asghar alias Hyder having bought him for two (2) Lakh (.2 Million) Rupees from the C I A (Criminal Investigation Agency). However, after investigation, the accused was taken in a critical condition to the hospital in a Police Mobile by Sub-Inspector Zia of the Preedy Police Station where having examined the accused, doctors confirmed the infliction of torture on the accused.
According to the statement of the accused, the police under the pretext of asking the names of colleagues and whereabouts of ammunition, inflicted severe blows over his chest and knees by batons. Later on, Police took the accused back to the Police Station.