QUETTA: A police surgeon who had conducted the post-mortem of five foreigners killed last month in Kharotabad area by security forces was beaten up and injured by unknown assailants here late on Monday night.

When Dr Baqir Shah was attacked he was taking dinner at a hotel. He alleged that he was beaten up by policemen.

“I was punished by police for telling the truth about the killing of five foreigners,” he told Dawn on telephone.

He was admitted to the Balochistan Medical College Hospital.

Earlier on Monday the tribunal investigating the killing of five foreigners by security forces at the Kharotabad checkpost on May 17 was informed by Dr Shah that the victims had been hit by 56 bullets.

Dr Baqir Shah of Bolan Medical Complex said the bullets had damaged vital organs of the foreigners and that was the main cause of their death.

Dr Baqir Shah also said that hospital had removed 21 bullets. A piece of metal was also found in one of the bodies.

Justice Mohammad Hashin Khan Kakar of Balochistan High Court is heading the tribunal.

Van driver Ata Mohammad, a key witness, retracted his earlier statement recorded in the tribunal and said it was false and he had given it under police pressure.

He said he changed his mind because a committee headed by Adviser to Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar had asked him on Sunday to swear by the Holy Quran and tell the truth.

The driver further said his previous statement recorded under police pressure was untrue and the five foreigners did not possess any hand grenade or other subversive material.

He said that policemen who searched the bags of the foreigners found only books and three bottles of shampoo.

The proceedings were adjourned till Tuesday.