Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a political worker died after severe torture in the custody of Pakistan Rangers including the injuries by drill machine at his both knees. He was arrested by Pakistan Rangers on the suspicion that he was involved in facilitating the target killing. He was arrested from his residence without warrants during the late night raid. He was kept in illegal detention for six days and when his legal custody was taken from the Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC) he died within hours in the late night. During his appearance in the ATC a video was made by a cell phone in which he was covered with piece of cloth and crying that he is innocent and he was tortured.
When the victim was dead a Sessions Judge was called immediately inside the jail at 2.30 A.M to declare that he was died of heart failure. The Session judge was forced to take oath on Quran Majeed (the holy book of Islam) that he will not tell outside that he visited jail in the wee hours of April 17. The Police have refused to file case against the Pakistan Rangers. The family members of the victim filed a case before the sessions court for ordering the police to file the case. But court is taking time to hear the application.
Since the operation in Karachi against terrorism and target killings since September 5, 2013, more than 1062 persons were extra judicially killed and a number of detainees killed in custody with impunity; http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-062-2015
CASE NARRATIVE:
The Pakistan Rangers during an operation against the terrorists, target killers and extortionist in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, has raided the house of Mr. Tariq Mehboob, the deputy general secretary of Sunni Ittehad Council, the united front of different politico-religious parties, on April 11 and his dead body was dumped in Jinnah hospital, Karachi in early hours of April 18 with so many injuries on his whole body including the marks of drilling holes on his knees. From April 11 to 17 he was kept in illegal detention of Pakistan Rangers. One day before, on April 17, he was produced before the Anti Terrorist Court (ATC)for Rangers’ custody for 90 days under Pakistan Protection Act (PPA). Here is the video clip of his body lying in the mortuary of hospital before the autopsy; https://www.facebook.com/hlakhany/videos/1168903446469189/
According to the brothers of the Mehboob, on April 11 at 9.15 P.M, about three dozen persons from Pakistan Rangers raided their house. They have covered their faces and there was no Magistrate with them. They took in custody Tariq Mehboob, his elder brother Mr. Ishrat Mehboob, one nephew Mt. Talha, his one servant, and two of his friends who were there to meet him. All arrested their faces were immediately covered with pieces of cloth and were driven to unknown destiny. It is also alleged that Rangers officials have taken away the currency which was there in the house with two licensed pistols. After their arrests more than 200 persons belonging to his religious party picketed outside the Yousuf Plaza police station. The station house officer (SHO) said to the crowd that he is totally unaware about Rangers raid in his police jurisdiction. The crowd then made sit in at Pakistan Highway. Immediately police reached at spot and it was promised to the protestors that medicines including injections of insulin will be sent to Rangers for Mehboob’s treatment.
The leaders of Sunni Ittehad Council contacted high ups for the release of Mehboob and other five persons, the officials of the Rangers informed that they will be released soon as they are taken in to custody for some information. On April 16, five persons were released but Tariq Mehboob remained in custody. Those five persons, who were released, told the family members that they have been kept striped for much of time and have been beaten in Rangers custody to inform for target killers association with them.
On April 17, the family members came to know through the television news at 12.30 A.M. that Tariq Mehboob has been produced before the ATC, they rushed to the court and before their arrival Rangers took official custody from the court and taken away the victim. The people at the court premises told them that he was crying all the time and one person made a video through cell phone wherein he was saying he is innocent, his legs were shivering and he was taking one name and crying Mr. Malik you did wrong with me, here is the video; https://www.facebook.com/Sahibzada.Hamid.Raza.Official/videos/vb.1405952769666255/1563240670604130/?type=2&theater
Next day, on April 18, again through the television news, the family members came to know that the victim, Tariq Mehboob, was died of heart attack in the prison. When the family members reached to the mortuary of Jinnah Hospital they saw the body of him with torture marks on every part of the body even on the head. His knees were having whole drilled with machine and cuts on different parts. https://www.facebook.com/hlakhany/videos/1168903446469189/
It was told to the family members by the jail sources that the victim was died in between the nights of April 17 and 18 and at around 2.30 A.M a Sessions judged was called by the rangers and jail authorities to make a statement that he was died of heart attack. The judge was asked to take oath on Qaran Majeed (the holy book of Islam) that he will not disclose that he was called at jail.
The Police have refused to file case against the Pakistan Rangers. The family members of the victim filed a case before the sessions court for ordering the police to file the case. But court is taking time to hear the application.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters to the authorities calling for the immediate investigation in to the extra judicial killing of a political leader who was died of severe torture during the custody of Pakistan Rangers. Please call them to prosecute all the responsible officials of Pakistan Rangers who kept Mr. Taiq Mehboob in illegal detention for more than six days and did torture with medieval method. The Karachi police must be asked to file a case of extra judicial killings in the custody against Pakistan Rangers.
The government must pay the compensation to the family members of the victim.
The AHRC writes a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Questions of Torture and extra judicial killings calling for their intervention intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
PAKISTAN: A political activist dies in the custody of Rangers after severe torture including the drilling of his knees
Name of victim: Mr. Tariq Mehboob 53 son of Mohammad Mehboob, resident of R-102, block 16, Federal B’Area, Karachi, Sindh
Names of alleged perpetrators: Pakistan Rangers stationed at Karachi
Date of incident: April 11, 2015
Place of incident: Block 16, Federal B Area, Karachi
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the extra judicial killings of a political worker in the custody of Pakistan Rangers. His body bores several marks of torture including the drilling of his knees.
I received the information through media that the Pakistan Rangers during an operation against the terrorists, target killers and extortionist in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, has raided the house of Mr. Tariq Mehboob, the deputy general secretary of Sunni Ittehad Council, the united front of different politico-religious parties, on April 11 and his dead body was dumped in Jinnah hospital, Karachi in early hours of April 18 with so many injuries on his whole body including the marks of drilling holes on his knees. From April 11 to 17 he was kept in illegal detention of Pakistan Rangers.
I am shocked to know that one day before, on April 17, he was produced before the Anti Terrorist Court (ATC)for Rangers’ custody for 90 days under Pakistan Protection Act (PPA). Here is the video clip of his body lying in the mortuary of hospital before the autopsy; https://www.facebook.com/hlakhany/videos/1168903446469189/
According to the brothers of the Mehboob, on April 11 at 9.15 P.M, about three dozen persons from Pakistan Rangers raided their house. They have covered their faces and there was no Magistrate with them. They took in custody Tariq Mehboob, his elder brother Mr. Ishrat Mehboob, one nephew Mt. Talha, his one servant, and two of his friends who were there to meet him. All arrested their faces were immediately covered with pieces of cloth and were driven to unknown destiny. It is also alleged that Rangers officials have taken away the currency which was there in the house with two licensed pistols. After their arrests more than 200 persons belonging to his religious party picketed outside the Yousuf Plaza police station. The station house officer (SHO) said to the crowd that he is totally unaware about Rangers raid in his police jurisdiction. The crowd then made sit in at Pakistan Highway. Immediately police reached at spot and it was promised to the protestors that medicines including injections of insulin will be sent to Rangers for Mehboob’s treatment.
I am distressed that the leaders of Sunni Ittehad Council contacted high ups for the release of Mehboob and other five persons, the officials of the Rangers informed that they will be released soon as they are taken in to custody for some information. On April 16, five persons were released but Tariq Mehboob remained in custody. Those five persons, who were released, told the family members that they have been kept striped for much of time and have been beaten in Rangers custody to inform for target killers association with them.
This also shook me that on April 17, the family members came to know through the television news at 12.30 A.M. that Tariq Mehboob has been produced before the ATC, they rushed to the court and before their arrival Rangers took official custody from the court and taken away the victim. The people at the court premises told them that he was crying all the time and one person made a video through cell phone wherein he was saying he is innocent, his legs were shivering and he was taking one name and crying Mr. Malik you did wrong with me, here is the video; https://www.facebook.com/Sahibzada.Hamid.Raza.Official/videos/vb.1405952769666255/1563240670604130/?type=2&theater
Next day, on April 18, again through the television news, the family members came to know that the victim, Tariq Mehboob, was died of heart attack in the prison. When the family members reached to the mortuary of Jinnah Hospital they saw the body of him with torture marks on every part of the body even on the head. His knees were having whole drilled with machine and cuts on different parts. https://www.facebook.com/hlakhany/videos/1168903446469189/
It was told to the family members by the jail sources that the victim was died in between the nights of April 17 and 18 and at around 2.30 A.M a Sessions judged was called by the rangers and jail authorities to make a statement that he was died of heart attack. The judge was asked to take oath on Qaran Majeed (the holy book of Islam) that he will not disclose that he was called at jail.
The Police have refused to file case against the Pakistan Rangers. The family members of the victim filed a case before the sessions court for ordering the police to file the case. But court is taking time to hear the application.
The Pakistan Rangers during an operation against the terrorists, target killers and extortionist in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, has raided the house of Mr. Tariq Mehboob, the deputy general secretary of Sunni Ittehad Council, the united front of different politico-religious parties, on April 11 and his dead body was dumped in Jinnah hospital, Karachi in early hours of April 18 with so many injuries on his whole body including the marks of drilling holes on his knees. From April 11 to 17 he was kept in illegal detention of Pakistan Rangers. One day before, on April 17, he was produced before the Anti Terrorist Court (ATC)for Rangers’ custody for 90 days under Pakistan Protection Act (PPA). Here is the video clip of his body lying in the mortuary of hospital before the autopsy; https://www.facebook.com/hlakhany/videos/1168903446469189/
According to the brothers of the Mehboob, on April 11 at 9.15 P.M, about three dozen persons from Pakistan Rangers raided their house. They have covered their faces and there was no Magistrate with them. They took in custody Tariq Mehboob, his elder brother Mr. Ishrat Mehboob, one nephew Mt. Talha, his one servant, and two of his friends who were there to meet him. All arrested their faces were immediately covered with pieces of cloth and were driven to unknown destiny. It is also alleged that Rangers officials have taken away the currency which was there in the house with two licensed pistols. After their arrests more than 200 persons belonging to his religious party picketed outside the Yousuf Plaza police station. The station house officer (SHO) said to the crowd that he is totally unaware about Rangers raid in his police jurisdiction. The crowd then made sit in at Pakistan Highway. Immediately police reached at spot and it was promised to the protestors that medicines including injections of insulin will be sent to Rangers for Mehboob’s treatment.
The leaders of Sunni Ittehad Council contacted high ups for the release of Mehboob and other five persons, the officials of the Rangers informed that they will be released soon as they are taken in to custody for some information. On April 16, five persons were released but Tariq Mehboob remained in custody. Those five persons, who were released, told the family members that they have been kept striped for much of time and have been beaten in Rangers custody to inform for target killers association with them.
On April 17, the family members came to know through the television news at 12.30 A.M. that Tariq Mehboob has been produced before the ATC, they rushed to the court and before their arrival Rangers took official custody from the court and taken away the victim. The people at the court premises told them that he was crying all the time and one person made a video through cell phone wherein he was saying he is innocent, his legs were shivering and he was taking one name and crying Mr. Malik you did wrong with me, here is the video; https://www.facebook.com/Sahibzada.Hamid.Raza.Official/videos/vb.1405952769666255/1563240670604130/?type=2&theater
Next day, on April 18, again through the television news, the family members came to know that the victim, Tariq Mehboob, was died of heart attack in the prison. When the family members reached to the mortuary of Jinnah Hospital they saw the body of him with torture marks on every part of the body even on the head. His knees were having whole drilled with machine and cuts on different parts. https://www.facebook.com/hlakhany/videos/1168903446469189/
It was told to the family members by the jail sources that the victim was died in between the nights of April 17 and 18 and at around 2.30 A.M a Sessions judged was called by the rangers and jail authorities to make a statement that he was died of heart attack. The judge was asked to take oath on Qaran Majeed (the holy book of Islam) that he will not disclose that he was called at jail.
The Police have refused to file case against the Pakistan Rangers. The family members of the victim filed a case before the sessions court for ordering the police to file the case. But court is taking time to hear the application.
I therefore, urge you to take immediate action for the investigation in to the extra judicial killing of a political leader, Mr. Tariq Mehboob of Sunni Ittehad Council, who was died of severe torture during the custody of Pakistan Rangers. I also call you to prosecute all the responsible officials of Pakistan Rangers who kept Mr. Taiq Mehboob in illegal detention for more than six days and did torture with medieval method. The Karachi police must be asked to file a case of extra judicial killings in the custody against Pakistan Rangers.
The government must pay the compensation to the family members of the victim.
Yours sincerely,
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111, +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2. Mr. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
The Government of Sindh Province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
3. Mr. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Minister
Ministry of Interior of Pakistan
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com, ministry.interior@gmail.com
4. Mr. Pervez Rashid
Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights of Pakistan
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: contact@molaw.gov.pk
5. Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
