Farooq Sattar's coordinator died under custody: MQM

KARACHI: A close aide of senior leader Farooq Sattar on a three-month preventive detention has died in custody of Rangers personnel, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said on Tuesday.

"MQM activist Aftab Ahmed died under custody around 4:00 AM this morning," MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan told reporters in Karachi today.

"We demand that a medical board be constituted to thoroughly investigate the death of the MQM worker," said the MQM leader.

A medico-legal officer at the Jinnah hospital in Karachi confirmed the MQM worker's death. He said that a magistrate would oversee the post-mortem of the MQM worker's body.

"Aftab Ahmed was brought to the Jinnah Hospital at 7:25 AM this morning where he was treated in the emergency ward. Aftab Ahmed passed away during emergency treatment," said Dr Seemi Jamali, head of emergency at the Jinnah Postgraduate medical centre (JPMC).

But later, a report by the medico-legal advisor stated that Aftab Ahmed had already expired before being brought to the hospital at 8:05 AM. The report said that he was pronounced dead after examination by the chief medical officer.

"A four member team medical board has been formed to carry out medical examination of the body. A Rangers doctor is also part of the four-member board," said Dr Kaleem at the Jinnah hospital.

“We have started the post-mortem of the body. A magistrate is overseeing the post-mortem,” he said.

Aftab Ahmed was reportedly detained by law enforcement personnel in plainclothes during a raid near Mukka Chowk in Federal B Area on Sunday evening.

He was among seven suspects presented before a judge of the anti-terrorism court on Monday by the paramilitary Rangers force.

A Rangers lawyer informed the court that the suspects belonging MQM were involved in the target-killing of over 40 people. The court had granted the Rangers' request for a 90-day preventive detention under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

Speaking to Geo News, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said that he was disturbed by the death of Aftab Ahmed.

Sattar said that Aftab Ahmed was a senior MQM activist and had worked with him as a coordinator for the last 10 years. "We need to be convinced that Aftab Ahmed died a natural death,” said Sattar.

According to an MQM press statement, Aftab Ahmed leaves behind his wife, three daughters and two sons. His funeral prayers will be offered at Numaish Chowrangi at 5:00 PM today, after which he would be laid to rest at the Shuhada graveyard.