Axe falls on 4 cops over custodial death

Probe exonerates Civil Lines police officials from charges

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab police have dismissed four officials from service in connection with the death of a citizen in police custody in Rawalpindi.

The dismissed officials include SHO Gujar Khan, Malik Kashif, and the in-charge of the Qazian police check post, Saqib Shiraz. The case has now been transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) due to the nature of the custodial death.

The incident dates back to July 18, when Zeeshan, a resident of Jhanda Chichi, Rawalpindi, died under mysterious circumstances while in the custody of Qazian police check post in Gujar Khan. His family staged a protest in front of the police station, demanding justice. A preliminary inquiry was conducted by the CPO Rawalpindi, revealing that the Gujar Khan police allegedly wanted Zeeshan. He had been initially taken into custody by the Civil Lines police station and kept at Tariq Abad Chowki.

After several hours in custody, he was handed over to the Gujar Khan police, where he eventually died under unclear circumstances.

In response to Zeeshan's death, the SSP operations took immediate action by suspending the SHO Civil Line, Sikandar Joya. Sub-Inspector Iftikhar, ASI Liaqat Ali, Constable Abid, In-charge of Chowki Qazian, Saqib Sheraz, ASI Sajid Saqlain, Hasnain, and two other constables were also suspended and issued charge sheets. Following the initial inquiry, SHO Malik Kashif was suspended as well.

On the orders of CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani, a case was registered against the SHO of Civil Lines police station, Sub-Inspector Iftikhar, ASI Liaqat, and four other officials, including the in-charge of Chowki Qazian, under various provisions, including murder.

A regular inquiry, headed by SSP Investigation, was handed over to Acting SP Headquarters.

Sources indicate that the SP Headquarters has completed the inquiry and submitted the report to CPO Rawalpindi. The inquiry exonerated four policemen, including the former SHO of Civil Lines police station, while holding the staff of Gujar Khan police station and Chowki Qazian responsible for alleged negligence and carelessness. As a result, CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani dismissed SHO Gujar Khan, Malik Kashif, in-charge of Chowki Qazian, Saqib Shiraz, ASI Sajid Saqlain, Hasnain, and two constables.

When contacted, former SHO Gujar Khan, Malik Kashif, stated that the Civil Lines police station and the police chowki are 30 to 40 kilometres away from Gujar Khan police station, implying a disconnect between the locations and his responsibility.