ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari on Monday announced the removal of Mir Iftikhar Lund as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s focal person on human rights in Sindh.
Announcing the move on Twitter, Mazari said the appointment had been withdrawn “on re-investigation and in the light of new evidence.”
However, she did not specify what new evidence she had received.
Lund, a former vice president of the party’s Sindh chapter, was appointed as focal person for the province on July 10. However, it had soon emerged that earlier this year, he had been accused of grievously assaulting one of his employees in Ghotki.
According to the victim’s son, Allah Rakhio had a disagreement with Shafiq Lund, following which he was called to Iftikhar’s residence where he was mercilessly beaten up by Shafiq, Rafiq Lund and Mumtaz Ali Lund in Iftikhar’s presence.
A video of Rakhio lying on his back on a stretcher and narrating his ordeal had been shared widely on social media.
An FIR [First Information Report] had been filed at the Khanpur Mahar police station against Iftikhar, Mumtaz, Shafiq and Rafiq on the victim’s complaint.
After the appointment, Lund had shared the “achievement” of landing the coveted position on social media. The move had attracted a strong reaction from human rights activists and members of civil society groups and opposition parties.
Amongst other prominent figures, human rights activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir had called for a justification for the appointment from the human rights ministry.
