Premeditated murder?

The custodial death of Muhammad Irfan, a teenager from Karachi, is neither the first, nor will it be the last. Unfortunately! Excesses on the part of law enforcement agencies, especially the police, is a new normal, and proves the bitter reality that rule of law is missing and authorities are scot-free and unaccountable. Such incidents are off and on reported from across the country, and end in the footnotes of filework without any retribution.

The arrest of a couple of youngsters from a locality in Karachi on charges of video-recording ATMs, in this incident, ultimately graduated into a custodial killing. The only solace is that the seven policemen allegedly involved have been booked, and one hopes law will take its course in ushering timely justice. As has become a routine, the FIR of the incident was not registered on behalf of the victim's family, and the state authorities were instead recognised as complainant.

This is travesty of justice and fair play, and constitutes the first obstruction on the path of dispensation of justice. It is bothersome as to why the police are always reluctant in registering cases on victim's complaint when stipulation from law is obvious. This proves the ill-will at inception in an attempt to hoodwink the entire process.

The courage exhibited by Irfan's family and supporters by staging a protest sit-in is laudable, and has provided an opportunity to unmask the culprits. The police's claim that Irfan died of heart attack makes the entire episode fishy. Moreover, the torture marks evident on his body confirm high-handedness. The police must carry out a thorough probe into the allegations of torture and subsequent death of the accused in lawful custody.

This custodial death of a teenager underscores the undeniable need for abiding by the SOPs so that greedy and egocentric officers do not go over the brink. Irfan's case should be registered under PPC 302 (premeditated murder) and his family be taken on board as probe gets underway. The accused in the grab of uniform should not go off the hook.