Two policemen detained over custodial death in Karachi

Victim’s family alleges torture; police claim they only transported him to hospital

KARACHI: Defence Police detained on Thursday two of their own personnel over their alleged involvement in the death of a person, Qaim Ali, who died allegedly in police custody in the early hours of Wednesday.

The two police officials have been implicated along with six others in an FIR, number 5/2019, registered under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The FIR was registered on the complaint of the deceased's nephew, Muhammad Iqbal. Section 302 of the PPC pertains to Qatl-i-amd [intension of causing death or bodily injury which is likely to cause death], punishable with death or imprisonment. The accused include the duty officer of Defence Police Station, a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector, a mobile driver and four other police personnel.



Allegations

Early on Wednesday morning, a police party from Defence police station allegedly raided a house located on Khayaban-e-Badban in Defence Housing Authority, which falls under the jurisdiction of Darakshan Police Station. They took the owner of the house, Tariq Mustafa, his driver, Qaim Ali, and a woman in custody and brought them back to the Defence Police Station.

According to police sources, Mustafa and the women were allowed to leave after paying a bribe of Rs500,000. At this point, the victim's nephew, Iqbal, alleges that the police tortured Qaim Ali to death and then took him to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), claiming that the deceased had suffered a heart attack. CCTV footage obtained from the NICVD shows a police mobile bringing the victim to the emergency ward at around 6am. When the doctors cast suspicions over the cause of death, they suggested to conduct a post-mortem, at which point the police team fled, leaving behind the dead body.

The body was later handed over to the victims' family.

FIR registered

The FIR was registered after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MPA Haleem Adil Sheikh took notice of the protest by the deceased's family on Korangi Road. The family placed the victim's body in the middle of the dual carriageway on Wednesday night, burnt tires and shouted slogans against the police. On receiving information of the protest, Sheikh reached the scene and managed to coax the protesters into dispersing, after promising a fair investigation.

Police version

Here is where it gets very interesting. On Wednesday night, South SSP Pir Muhammad Shah told the media a completely different story from the family's version of what transpired. Addressing a press conference, SSP Shah claimed that Tariq Mustafa was going somewhere with his driver, Qaim Ali, who suddenly felt pain in his chest. According to the police, Mustafa got the attention of police personnel in a nearby police mobile, who then rushed Qaim Ali to the hospital. The doctors at NICVD confirmed Qaim Ali's death after examining him and the police returned to the police station. They maintain that the deceased was never in custody and had died of a heart attack.

Investigation underway

Taking notice of the incident, Sindh Inspector General of Police Dr Kaleem Imam ordered an investigation and sought a report from the South DIG.



Subsequently, Qaim Ali's body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and then handed over to the family after a several-hour-long post-mortem. Samples from the body were taken and sent to the laboratory for chemical examination. The additional police surgeon at JPMC, Dr Sheeraz, said that there were no torture marks found on the body but the cause of death will be determined after the chemical examination reports.

Family's stance

Iqbal told The Express Tribune that his uncle was originally from Thar district and had been working at Mustafa's bungalow for the past three months. The deceased had three sons and a daughter. The nephew alleged that the police had tortured Qaim Ali and consequently killed him. If his condition was deteriorating, Mustafa should have taken him to the hospital and not wasted time at the police station, he lamented. The family has departed for their ancestral village for the burial. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2019.