Umerkot blasphemy suspect killed in ‘fake’ police encounter, says Sindh home minister.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar on Thursday said that an investigation committee found that Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar, the blasphemy suspect in Umerkot, was killed in staged police encounter.
Ziaul Hassan vowed harsh action against those responsible in the incident.
The medical professional was booked by Umerkot police under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly sharing ‘blasphemous posts’ on social media.
Also read: Blasphemy suspect killed by cop inside Quetta police station
Dr Kunbhar was taken into “protective custody” on Sept 18 by the local police.
Later, the suspect was transferred to Mirpurkhas but the next day he was shot dead by Sindhri police, what they called “an encounter”.
Sindhri SHO Niaz Khoso claimed that the doctor along with ‘accomplices’ opened fire at police.
In retaliatory action, the suspect was shot dead whereas his accomplice managed to escape, he added.
The doctor’s body was handed over to his relatives but a mob emerged again and torched it.
The alleged encounter prompted widespread public outcry, with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah taking notice of the incident and ordering the suspension of the Mirpurkhas DIG, SSP and other police officers.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Sindh minister said the investigation committee led by DIG Pervaiz Chandio of Shaheed Benazirabad termed the alleged police encounter fake.
He said the Sindh Assembly had demanded the suspension of the cops involved in the alleged encounter and added that the suspension of a DIG and a SSP among other officials and the holding of a probe into the incident is rare instance.
Giving details of a 31-page detailed investigation report, Lanjar said that the probe team reviewed the CCTV footages and call data records (CDR) and traced the mobile phones.
Also read: Man burnt to death over blasphemy allegations in Swat
“Our police officers are involved in this incident […] We are ordering a registration of first information report against them,” he noted, adding that they have apprised the chief minister of this investigation report.
Furthermore, he said, DIP and SSP Mirpurkhas has been suspended and an FIR would be registered against him.
“At least six cases have been registered so far […] no one will be spared.”
“We have also briefed his [the suspect] family members on the inquiry being launched into the incident.”
He asked the doctor’s family members to register a case, saying: “If the family refuses to file FIR, then the state will.”
“Investigation was underway whether Dr Shahnawaz was innocent or not,” the provincial minister said, adding the inquiry report was based on the encounter itself, not whether the deceased had committed blasphemy.
Lanjar added that the inquiry committee was constituted for a “disciplinary investigation”, adding: “We have appointed a new DIG and the committee investigating the FIRs will comprise two SSPs from Umerkot and Shaheed Benazirabad.”
Following the investigation, Lanjar said, CM Murad will announce a compensation for the suspect’s family. “No extrajudicial incident is tolerable,” he concluded.
