Man ‘stripped, beaten, shot’ by police

Clash breaks out after PTI MPA asks police to move injured man to private hospital

HYDERABAD: A clash broke out between civilians and the police in Ghotki after a young man was allegedly stripped, beaten and humiliated by the law enforcers before being shot and injured in a ‘staged’ encounter.

Shabbir Shar, who the police claim is an outlaw nominated in several FIRs, accused the police of arresting and humiliating him a day before he was shot in both legs.

Following the incident, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf MPA Muhammad Shaharyar Ali Khan Mahar rushed to Ghotki Civil Hospital with dozens of supporters and directed SHO Sardar Chandio to shift Shabbir to a private hospital for better medical care. However, Chandio refused.

As a result, an argument broke out between Chandio and Sindh United Party leader Hatan Shar, which turned into a clash between the Shar clan and the Ghotki police. The Shar family pelted the police with stones, transforming the hospital into a battleground.

Ghotki ASP Ayaz Ahmed and DSP Izhar Hussain Lahori arrived at the hospital and put an end to the clash, also meeting the MPA and reportedly apologising for Chandio’s misconduct.

The officials stated an impartial inquiry would be conducted and a report submitted within two days.

“This was an act of political victimisation because I have raised the issue of police brutality in the Sindh Assembly,” said Mahar while speaking to the media. He accused local Pakistan Peoples Party leaders of involvement in police activities.

Meanwhile, Chandio claimed that Shabbir was shot in an encounter after he had attempted to kidnap a man, Sajid Toor.