MQM leadership has claimed that senior party leader and close aid of Farooq Sattar, Aftab Ahmed died in the custody of the Rangers. The Rangers claimed that Ahmed had been brought alive to the hospital suffering from chest pains. Hospital administration unveiled that when deceased was brought to the hospital he did not have pulse or blood pressure and died after a few minutes of arriving in the hospital.
Though 42-year old detainee dying of a heart attack should in itself be cause for investigation but shocking images of Ahmed’s brutalized body emerged on social media left no doubt that he was brutally tortured in custody. If we argue that some of the MQM workers are involved in anti-state activities, they must be trialed in the court in accordance with law of the land. Extrajudicial killings cannot be justified on moral or legal grounds, neither the Rangers’ actions. This is wholly unacceptable in any civilised society.
The issue of extrajudicial killings has tainted the security operation in Karachi ever since it was launched in late 2013. Rangers were given extraordinary powers. It is not the first incident of brutality in 2011 a young by was killed in cold blood by some of the Rangers in Karachi, highest court of the country had to intervene to ensure that justice is done.
This time Gen Raheel Sharif has rightly ordered an inquiry into Ahmed’s death.
This act must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. This act has damaged reputation of Rangers which has contributed in restoring peace in the city. Those involved in it must be brought to law in accordance with their share in the offence.
Extrajudicial killings cannot be justified on moral or legal grounds.
