Dr Shahnawaz killing: ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrant of six cops
FIA records written statement of five medical board members who exhumed slain medical professional’s body
- ATC directs FIA to produce cops by Jan 8, 2025.
- FIA recorded statements of five medical board members.
- Medical board member confirms torture on victim.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Mirpurkhas on Thursday issued non-bailable arrest warrant of six police officers in a case related to the staged encounter of Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar in September this year.
During today’s hearing, the ATC directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce the suspected cops, including a former deputy inspector general (DIG) and senior superintendent police (SSP), by January 8, 2025.
Meanwhile, the FIA recorded written statement of five medical board members who exhumed the Shahnawaz’s body.
Professor Dr Waheed, a member of the medical board, confirmed “torture” on the deceased doctor as “his five ribs were broken”.
Dr Shahnawaz had been killed in a fake encounter by Mirpurkhas cops, according to the inquiry committee members, in the jurisdiction of the Sindhri police station on the night of September 19.
According to the committee’s findings, on September 17, the Umerkot police received reports about alleged blasphemous social media activities of Shahnawaz, a resident of the Janhero village and a senior medical officer (BS-18) at the Umerkot District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).
As the news about the alleged blasphemy spread, a large number of people gathered in the Umerkot city to protest and riot. The main target of their aggression was the police because the alleged suspect was at large, as per The News report.
The mob also set ablaze a police van and damaged other police vehicles. An FIR was later lodged against the doctor on the complaint of cleric Sabir Ali at the Umerkot Taluka police station, while another FIR was lodged against the rioters at the Umerkot City police station.
The doctor was taken into “protective custody” on Sept 18 by a police team. Later, the suspect was transferred to Mirpurkhas but the next day he was shot dead, what they called “an encounter”.
The incident prompted an inquiry by the Sindh government with a pledge of stern action against those responsible in the incident.
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.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar had announced that a comprehensive 31-page report had been prepared after investigating all the aspects of the tragedy and ordered authorities concerns to register FIRs against the officers involved.
