FAISALABAD: After pursuing a case for a fortnight, ruling party MPA Tahir Jameel and the family of police torture victim Sheraz Nawaz have `reached an understanding`.

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) higher-ups have acted as a mediator between the two parties as Sheraz`s father Dr Haq Nawaz is director graduate studies at the institute.

Police took Sheraz, an MSc (Hons) degree holder, into custody a day after the MPA had a case of theft registered against unidentified persons.

Sheraz`s family alleged that police implicated him inthecase atthebehestof the MPA.

Inahandoutissuedhere on Wednesday night, the UAF administration claimed that the two parties had reconciled and would not give any statement to the media about the dispute. `The case is being investigated because of a misunder-standing and both sides have agreed to stop pursuing it,` it said.

A committee comprising acting SSP (investigation) Malik Awais, Madina Town SP Malik Jameel Zafar and DSP Ausaf Safdar Wahla (constituted by City Police Officer Afzaal Kausar) also played a role in reconciliation.

UAF Director Students Affairs Dr Zafar Qureshi and Principal officer PRP Dr Jalal Arif represented the university administration.

The UAF took exception to the media reporting on the issue, ignoring the fact that its Academic Staff Association had also issued a press release threatening protest over the torture ofSheraz.

Sheraz`s counsel Naveed Mukhtar, former secretary of the District Bar Association, said reconciliation did not mean the policemen had not committed any crime and that they should go unpunished.

He said it was the responsibility of the senior officers to bring the policemen to book.

He said it was a matter of regret that an educational institute had to be involved in a dispute of criminal nature.

Advocate Mukhtar said Sheraz would be produced for ball in court on Friday (today).