‘Man who assaulted KU professor’ remanded in police custody

A judicial magistrate in Karachi on Friday ordered the remand of suspect Konain Shah in police custody as part of a case involving threats toward a University of Karachi professor. Konain Shah faces allegations of threatening Prof Dr Muhammad Arif Khan Saqi with dire consequences if he did not withdraw from an assault case against him.

The Sachal police registered a second FIR against Konain, linked to offenses under Section 25/D of the Telegraph Act and Section 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to intimidation. Prof Saqi was physically assaulted on September 8 by Konain and his guards, following an incident where the professor's car was damaged by a suspect's SUV.

A viral video showed the assault and detention of Prof Saqi and his nephew inside a restaurant. Despite Konain's father offering an apology, the professor refused it, insisting on seeking justice. Konain was produced before Judicial Magistrate Shafique Ahmed on Thursday, who sought a 14-day police custody to investigate his criminal record and interrogate him.

The defense later filed a plea seeking the suspect's discharge, contending that he was falsely implicated due to ulterior motives. State prosecutor Muhammad Idrees Seelro opposed this plea. The court, after hearing both sides, remanded Konain Shah for three days in police custody, dismissing the discharge plea as premature due to the investigation being at its initial phase and as non-bailable offenses are alleged.