Seven SIU officials suspended over citizen's death by 'torture' in custody

Family stages protest in Saddar over Bahawalpur resident's detention, death

KARACHI:

Three Special Investigation Unit assistant sub-inspectors and four constables were suspended on Friday in connection with the death of a youngster in custody allegedly due to torture. 

According to deceased Irfan's relatives, he was visiting from Bahawalpur and on Wednesday morning SIU officials detained him and his three friends while they were filming videos during breakfast. Their families were unable to reach them after the SIU officials allegedly confiscated their mobile phones. 

The family staged a protest outside the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Centre in Saddar, accusing the police of causing Irfan's death. 

Read: One more citizen dies of police torture

According to Saddar Police Station SHO Chaudhry Zahid, the police was alerted by Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) about an unidentified body brought in. When Zahid's team reached JPMC they found SIU personnel present on site as well as a magistrate. The victim's family had not contacted the police by then and SIU Saddar was on the case, said Zahid. 

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amjad Sheikh said that further inquiry is underway. 

Not a first

There have been numerous complaints of custodial deaths at the hands of SIU Police, who have also been accused of abducting civilians and releasing them after collecting ransom. 

Last year, SIU was accused of torturing a citizen to death in custody, abandoning his body near his house and fleeing. An FIR was lodged against an unidentified police party at Manghopir Police Station in this regard. 

CIA DIG told The Express Tribune that the SIU officials involved in this matter were arrested. 

According to police sources, the SIU party unlawfully arrested a citizen named Qayamuddin in Manghopir area on January 12, 2024. The man was handcuffed while SIU officials searched his brother Nizammuddin’s house in Altaf Nagar. 

Later, the SIU team released Qayyamuddin warning him against informing anyone about his detention and subsequent raid. 

SIU officials then took away with Nizam. His body was discovered near his house.