KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Wednesday announced two days of mourning in Karachi, calling for all businesses to remain shut over the custodial death of a party worker at the Aziz Bhatti police station, according to a statement on the MQM website.

A post-mortem of deceased Muttahida Qaumi Movement worker Muhammad Waseem who was held at the Aziz Bhatti police station revealed that there were signs of torture on his body.

A copy of the initial report obtained by DawnNews revealed the deceased suffered a head injury after being hit hard with a blunt object. It also said the victim suffered asphyxiation resulting in cardio-respiratory failure.

Inspector General Sindh police Ghulam Haider Jamali has placed DSP East Zone Nasir Ahmed Lodhi under suspension with immediate effect. Jamali further reverted SHO Aziz Bhatti police station Masood Raza to his substantive rank of ASI and also suspended him, said a handout issued here.

The four police officers who were investigating Waseem were also taken into custody, said Karachi-East SSP Pir Mohammed Shah, and a first-information report has been filed against them.

MQM supremo Altaf Hussain in a statement on the party's website expressed his condolences upon the passing of the party worker ─ who he said was a Baldia Town Unit-117 worker ─ and said all party members were united in this tragedy.

Muhammad Waseem was arrested yesterday from Dalmiya, where police recovered weapons from his possession. His body is being transported to his home in Baldia Town. Police sources said Waseem was arrested for his involvement in theft.

A family member told DawnNews that Waseem's elder brothers had both been arrested by the police previously and were being held at an unknown location.

The Additional IG along with the Deputy IG and the SSP East will launch a probe into the case. Further action will be taken following detailed post-mortem reports, said Spokesman Karachi Police Atiq Shaikh.

MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, while addressing a press conference later in the day, said MQM activist Wasim was brutally tortured to death in police custody after which the party has announced to observe two-day mourning.

Shops start to close

DawnNews reports MQM's two-day call for mourning in Karachi has commenced, as shops and businesses begin closing down in various areas of Karachi, including MA Jinnah Road, blocks 17 and 18 of Gulistan-i-Johar, and Malir.