- Konain Shah is prime suspect in Arif Saqi assault case.
- He secures interim pre-arrest bail from a Malir court.
- Court orders him to join the investigation.
KARACHI: Police have arrested the prime suspect in a case involving the alleged assault and wrongful confinement of University of Karachi professor Dr Muhammad Arif Khan Saqi and his nephew, police officials said.
Police identified the arrested suspect as Syed Muhammad Konain Shah, who had been nominated in the case.
Police officials said they arrested Shah despite he obtained bail as they feared that he could flee the city. His arrest comes after the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior had expressed anger over the failure to apprehend him.
Shah had secured interim pre-arrest bail from an additional district and sessions court in Malir on Thursday. The court granted him bail against surety bonds of Rs20,000 and directed him to join the investigation. It also summoned the investigating officer and adjourned further proceedings on the bail application until September 21.
The case relates to an incident near Safoora Chowrangi in which Dr Saqi was allegedly assaulted following a collision involving a double-cabin vehicle and the online taxi in which he was travelling.
The professor and his nephew were also allegedly subjected to wrongful confinement in the incident.
Police are now expected to question Shah as part of the investigation and determine his alleged role in the incident.
Police later established that the vehicle carrying Dr Saqi was being driven by his nephew, Waheedur Rehman.
According to Dr Saqi, the double-cabin vehicle was coming out of a parking area when its guards signalled the taxi to stop. The vehicle then reversed and hit the taxi.
The professor said he asked the people in the double-cabin vehicle to compensate the taxi driver for the damage caused by the collision.
Dr Saqi said the hotel owner’s son then got out of the vehicle, fired two shots and struck him with pistol butts before resorting to aerial firing.
He also said that he and his nephew were taken to the hotel, where they were allegedly tortured.
Videos of the incident subsequently circulated on social media, showing Dr Saqi being assaulted.
Police registered a case at Sachal police station on Dr Saqi’s complaint against Konain and others. The case includes charges relating to attempted murder, assault, causing injuries and wrongful confinement, police said.
Police also detained three employees of a local hotel in connection with the incident and launched efforts to arrest others allegedly involved in the assault.
Following the incident, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar sought a detailed report from the SSP East on the alleged mistreatment and illegal confinement of the university professor.
Lanjar said the dignity, respect and safety of teachers would be ensured at all costs and vowed to take action against those involved in accordance with the law.
The SSP East also said legal action would be taken against the suspects.
