Prime suspect gets interim bail in KU professor assault case

• Konain Shah gets bail against Rs20,000 surety bonds.
• Police register attempted murder case against suspects.
• Police also book suspects for wrongful confinement.
  

KARACHI: An additional district and sessions court in Malir on Thursday granted interim bail to the prime suspect in a case involving the assault and wrongful confinement of University of Karachi professor Dr Muhammad Arif Khan Saqi and his nephew.

The court approved Syed Muhammad Konain Shah s/o Syed Ali Gohar's bail against surety bonds of Rs20,000 and directed him to join the investigation.

It also summoned the investigating officer at the next hearing and adjourned proceedings on the bail application until September 21.

The case stems from an incident near Safoora Chowrangi in which Dr Saqi was assaulted following a collision between the double-cabin vehicle and the online taxi in which he was travelling.

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 guards signalled the taxi to stop before the vehicle reversed and hit it.

The professor said he asked the people in the double-cabin vehicle to compensate the taxi driver for the damage caused in the collision.

Dr Saqi said the hotel owner's son then got out of the vehicle, fired two shots and hit him with pistol butts before carrying out aerial firing.

He also said that he and his nephew were taken to the hotel, where they were tortured.

Videos of the incident subsequently spread 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 other people involved in the assault.

Following the incident, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar sought a detailed report from the SSP East over the 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 action against those involved in accordance with the law.

The SSP East also said legal action would be taken against the suspects.