SHO, others booked for custodial death

FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad has registered a case against the SHO of Tarnol Police Station and other police officers involved in the custodial death of a suspect due to alleged torture.

A four-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been formed under the supervision of an assistant director to investigate the matter.

According to the officials, the case has been filed on the complaint of Police Sub-Inspector Tariq Mahmood under charges of murder, illegal detention, and custodial torture. On July 10, ASI Rana Muhammad Saleem, along with Constables Zaheer Ahmed and Sajid Mahmood, arrested Nauman Khan from Mianwali and brought him to Islamabad. Khan was involved in a theft and murder case.

The police kept the suspect at Tarnol Police Station without officially recording the arrest. All three policemen removed the suspect from the lock-up at night, tortured him in the interrogation room, and then locked him in the same condition.

A man named Qasim witnessed the officers taking the suspect out and then locking him back in. Later, other detainees in the lock-up raised the alarm, stating that Nauman Khan's condition was critical.

The Muharrar (author) went to inspect and informed the sub-inspector that the suspect's condition had deteriorated due to torture. Meanwhile, he was being transferred to the hospital, Nauman Khan stated that ASI Rana Saleem and two other police officers had tortured him, after which he lost consciousness. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors confirmed his death.

ASI Rana Saleem and the constables committed the crime of illegally detaining the suspect without declaring his arrest and subjecting him to torture.

SHO Tarnol Shaukat Mahmood and Head Muharrar Muhammad Asif also committed the crime by unlawfully detaining the suspect and abusing their authority.

In the light of the findings, a case has been registered against SHO Tarnol Shaukat Mahmood, Head Constable Asif, ASI Rana Muhammad Saleem, and Constables Zaheer Ahmed and Sajid Mahmood.

The case file has also been transferred to the FIA. Sources indicate that Director FIA Islamabad Zone, Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari, has formed a four-member joint investigation team to investigate the case.