KU professor threat case: Suspect gets 3-day remand

KU professor threat case: Suspect gets 3-day remand

A judicial magistrate in Malir on Friday granted police a three-day physical remand of Konain Shah in a case involving alleged threats made over the phone to University of Karachi professor Dr Muhammad Arif Khan Saqi.

Police produced Shah before a local court in Karachi and requested a 14-day physical remand for investigation. The magistrate, however, rejected the request and approved only three days of custody.

The court also turned down Shah’s plea seeking his release in the threats case. It directed police to ensure that the suspect does not face torture or any unlawful treatment during custody and ordered a medical examination before he is presented at the next hearing.

Police arrested Shah a day earlier in connection with the threats case, despite his having secured bail in another case related to the alleged assault and unlawful confinement of Dr Saqi and his nephew. Police said they took him into custody because they feared he could leave the city.

Shah had obtained interim pre-arrest bail from an additional district and sessions court in Malir a day earlier after submitting surety bonds of Rs20,000. The court had also ordered him to join the investigation and summoned the investigating officer. It fixed September 21 for further proceedings on the bail petition.

The wider case stems from an incident near Safoora Chowrangi, where Dr Saqi was allegedly assaulted after a collision involving a double-cabin vehicle and an online taxi in which he was travelling.

According to Dr Saqi, his nephew Waheedur Rehman was driving the taxi when the double-cabin vehicle came out of a parking area. He said guards signalled the taxi to stop, but the vehicle reversed and struck it.

Dr Saqi said he asked the occupants of the double-cabin vehicle to compensate the taxi driver for the damage. He alleged that the hotel owner’s son then emerged from the vehicle, fired two shots and struck him with a pistol butt before firing into the air.

He further alleged that he and his nephew were taken to a hotel and subjected to torture.

Police registered a case at Sachal police station on Dr Saqi’s complaint against Shah and others. The charges include attempted murder, assault, causing injuries and wrongful confinement.

Following the incident, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar sought a detailed report from the SSP East over the alleged mistreatment and unlawful confinement of the university professor.