Raheel Sharif directs probe into MQM worker's death in Rangers custody

RAWALPINDI (Staff Report) - Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has directed top Rangers officials to thoroughly investigate into the death of a MQM worker while he was in legal custody of Sindh Rangers.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Army Chief has taken serious notice of the incident and ordered DG Rangers to take every step to fulfill the promise of justice.

Meanwhile, Rangers spokesman said that a top level investigation team has been formulated to investigate into the death of Aftab Ahmad. The team will also identify the paramilitary officials who tormented the MQM worker.

Some media reports have also claimed that Rangers personnel involved in torture on Aftab Ahmad has been suspended.

Earlier, Director General Sindh Rangers Major-General Bilal Akbar had accepted that Farooq Sattar’s coordinator was tormented in Rangers custody, after pictures deceased MQM worker which showed torture marks on his dead body surfaced online.

Talking to a TV channel on Tuesday night, Bilal Akbar said that strict action will be taken against those personnel who subjected Aftab Ahmad to this brutal torture during legal custody.

He categorically confirmed that standard operating procedures were not followed by some Rangers personnel in this case.

Ahmad was associated with MQM since 1990 and has been serving as Sattar’s coordinator since 2002.

Aftab Ahmad was arrested by law enforcement agencies personnel, in plain clothes arrested, from his residence at Federal-B (FB) Block 14 on Sunday.

On Monday, he was produced in a Karachi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), where Rangers were granted 90-day custody of Aftab Ahmad.

However, his dead body was shifted to Jinnah Hospital on very next day, Tuesday. Initially, Rangers said that Aftab Ahmad had died of cardiac arrest at the hospital.