It is shameful not only for the authorities but for this nation that failed to get justice for Salahuddin
ISLAMABAD: The primary duty of the police is to protect the citizens and their rights but sadly instead of protecting citizens, some policemen are responsible for gruesome torture. This gives the whole of the police a bad name. They misuse the word “Custodians of law” and take the law into their hands. Instead of investigating and trying to find the truth they start torturing the accused in order to make them accept the crimes they didn’t commit and even if they committed those crimes, the police are not supposed to punish them. Only the courts can punish them in accordance with law of the land.
A month or so ago, the police arrested a man named Salahuddin and a video of him being tortured during investigation was released. The next day his death was confirmed. His father stated that his son was mentally disabled and that’s why he had tattooed his name and address on his arm for identification purposes. He was tortured by the custodians of law and there were torture marks on his body. But the question is why was he tortured for committing a crime about which he himself wasn’t aware? The custodians of law killed a person who didn’t even have sense of vice and virtue. It is sad and ironic at the same time. There are a small number of policemen who commit such acts and they should be held accountable so as not to overshadow the bravery of other policemen who die in the line of duty.
What is worth thinking is that the victim “Salahuddin” died making faces to the cruel system of justice. It is shameful not only for the authorities but for this nation that failed to get justice for him.
Zia Ul Haq
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2019.
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