KARACHI: Police have arrested Syed Muhammad Konain Shah, the principal suspect in the alleged assault and unlawful confinement of University of Karachi professor Dr Muhammad Arif Khan Saqi and his nephew.
Police said Shah was apprehended after raids at several locations in Karachi. Investigators alleged that he had been moving between locations and had switched off his mobile phone while police attempted to trace him. The arrest came after senior officials and lawmakers criticised the delay in taking the main suspect into custody.
The case stems from an incident near Safoora Chowrangi on September 8. According to Dr Saqi, a dispute began after a double-cabin vehicle reversed into the vehicle in which he and his nephew were travelling. Saqi alleged that when he asked those in the other vehicle to compensate the driver for the damage, he was attacked with pistol butts and shots were fired into the air.
Saqi and his nephew were then allegedly taken to a nearby hotel and held and assaulted there. Police registered charges including attempted murder, assault, causing injuries and wrongful confinement. Several hotel employees and guards had already been detained in connection with the case.
Shah had obtained interim pre-arrest bail against Rs20,000 surety a day earlier, with the court directing him to join the investigation and scheduling further proceedings for September 21. Police nevertheless said they arrested him because they feared he could evade investigators.