THE right decision was eventually made, but this itself is hardly worthy of applause considering the ugly episode that preceded it.

On Monday, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari finally issued a notice from her office withdrawing the July 10 notification making Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Loond, a former vice president of the PTI’s Sindh chapter, the focal person for human rights in the province.

The irony of Mr Loond occupying such a post was not lost; in late April, Mr Loond was named in an FIR as a co-accused in the brutal torture, including sexual assault, of his former driver.

Following his appointment, Ms Mazari initially responded on Twitter by describing the public outcry as a politically motivated campaign, and claiming that Mr Loond “was cleared of all charges”.

He was not. Rather, he had reached an out-of-court settlement with the complainant, ie not an acquittal.

Between these initial and eventual responses, it is worth noting, the Ghotki by-election for NA-205 took place last week. Many have speculated that the choice to stand by the influential Mr Loond was thus a matter of political expediency in order to ensure his support for the independent candidate that the PTI was backing.

Equally expedient was the decision to remove him once his utility was expended. This might be a cynical point of view, but it is certainly no more cynical than dismissing as a political ploy legitimate concerns of a man accused of grievously violating another’s bodily integrity being associated with the human rights ministry.

On top of which, questions linger.

The minister cites “new evidence” coming to light as the reason for the de-notification. Can this information be shared, and should it lead to his removal from the party?

Unless Dr Mazari was referring to the earlier (well-known, well-documented) torture case, one shudders to imagine what new details would cause such an about-turn when the outcry over the former elicited little more than a cold shoulder.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2019