Probe finds blasphemy accused killed in fake encounter

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjarcracks down on cops involved in 'custodial murder' of Dr Shahbaz

KARACHI:

Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has said that the PPP-led Sindh government believes in the supremacy of the constitution and rule of law, and will protect the rights of every citizen in the province.

He was addressing a press conference at the Directorate of Social Media office regarding the Mirpurkhas incident in which a blasphemy accused was killed in a dubious encounter

Lanjar said, after the tragic incident, we have removed DIG Mirpurkhas and posted Zubair Dreshak as the new DIG to strengthen the rule of law and boost the morale of police. He said, SSP Umerkot and Mirpurkhas have also been removed from their positions.

Home minister said that a comprehensive 31-page report has been prepared, investigating all aspects of the Mirpurkhas-Umerkot tragedy. Based on the report, we have ordered registration of FIRs against all involved in the incident including officers. "If the victim's family doesn't file a case, the Sindh government will pursue it. No matter how influential or senior an officer is, we will hold everybody accountable," said the home minister.

Lanjar assured the media that legal action is being taken against DIG, SSP, and other officials involved in the incident. He expressed hope that investigations into Dr Shahbaz Kumbhar's social media posts will reveal more facts.

Minister for Education Syed Sardar Shah, IGP Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, and DIG Shaheed Benazirabad Division were also present at the press meet.

Opinion of inquiry committee

The inquiry committee, in it's report said, keeping in view the statements recorded, visit of place of occurrence, various police documents, CCTV footage, social media content, call data records (CDRs), tracker data and information collected from different sources, the committee unanimously is of opinion that Umerkot police arrested him from Karachi and handed him to Mirpurkhas police on the same day.

Mirpurkhas police killed him in a managed encounter and tried to give it a legal cover but failed. This illegal action of police officials brought very bad name to the Sindh Police, otherwise, which holds an outstanding history regarding maintaining religious harmony throughout the province in such challenging times.

Recommendations

The family members of Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar may record statements and lodge FIR for the murder under relevant sections of Law.

Serious violations of procedures and rules were undertaken by the command of Mirpurkhas Range, Mirpurkhas police and Umerkot police, including celebrations and jubilations and the way the encounter was portrayed on various platforms. Strict departmental action is recommended against all, said the report.

Investigation of the cases registered or to be registered should be conducted by a senior officer not below the rank of SP and preferably by CTD or Crime Investigation Unit.

The whole episode was not seriously handled as per law and police rules, lacking overall command and failure to take decisions as enumerated in legal framework of the country by the officers including DIG Mirpurkhas, SSP Umarkot and SSP Mirpurkhas. Strong departmental action is recommended against them, the report recommended.