Hyderabad – 20 March 2002
Police and other law enforcement personnel unlawfully arrested and brutally tortured Mr Salah Uddin, the MQM Zonal Organiser for Hyderabad in Pakistan. According to details, on 20 March 2002, at around 1 a.m., the personnel of Government Officers Residence Colony (GOR) Police Station led by Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Asif Jatoi stopped his car at Hill Top Chari in Hyderabad while Mr Salah Uddin was on his way to visit an MQM Member’s father who had recently suffered from heart attack. As soon as Mr Salah Uddin stopped his car, heavy contingent of police without any reason grabbed him. Immediately after recognising Mr Salah Uddin, the ASI and his party started beating him up. Later, Salah Uddin was then thrown into a waiting police mobile and taken to the GOR Police Station, where further torture and degrading treatment was meted out to Mr Salah Uddin.
Upon learning of the unlawful arrest of Mr Salah Uddin, former MQM Members of Provincial Assembly of Sindh Mr Afzaal Ahmed Shah and Mr Arif Razmi went to the GOR Police Station to ask for the immediate release of Mr Salah Uddin. However, they too were humiliated and the ASI Asif Jatoi continued to use abusive language against them and particularly against the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).
It may be recalled that on 30 January 2002, Mr Salah Uddin was unlawfully arrested in a similar incident by personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies from Hyderabad in Pakistan.