In Karachi, a judicial magistrate in Malir on Friday granted police a three-day physical remand of Konain Shah, the suspect accused of making threatening phone calls to University of Karachi professor Dr. Muhammad Arif Khan Saqi. Shah was produced before the local court, where police initially requested a 14-day remand, but the magistrate limited it to three days.

The court also dismissed Shah’s plea for release in connection with the threats case. Additionally, the magistrate instructed the police to refrain from any torture or unlawful treatment of Shah during custody and mandated a medical examination before the next hearing.

This legal development follows Shah’s arrest by Karachi police a day earlier in relation to the threats case. Despite having obtained interim pre-arrest bail from an additional district and sessions court in Malir, police apprehended him due to concerns he might abscond. The bail, granted on the condition of surety bonds amounting to Rs20,000, required Shah to cooperate with the investigation. The court has adjourned further proceedings on the bail application until September 21 and summoned the investigating officer.

The case emerged after an incident near Safoora Chowrangi where Dr. Saqi was assaulted following a collision involving the double-cabin vehicle and the online taxi in which he was traveling. Police reports confirmed that the taxi was driven by Dr. Saqi’s nephew, Waheedur Rehman.

Dr. Saqi stated that the double-cabin vehicle exited a parking area and the guards signaled the taxi to stop before reversing and striking it. When Dr. Saqi requested compensation for the damage from those in the double-cabin vehicle, the hotel owner’s son allegedly exited, fired two shots, struck Dr. Saqi with a pistol butt, and carried out aerial firing. Dr. Saqi and his nephew were then taken to the hotel where they reportedly endured torture.

Following the complaint lodged by Dr. Saqi, the Sachal police registered a case against Konain Shah and others. The charges include attempted murder, assault, causing injuries, and wrongful confinement. In a significant response, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has called for a detailed report from the SSP East concerning the mistreatment and illegal confinement of the professor.