Man alleges brutal police torture, extortion attempt

KARACHI:

A resident of Gulberg has alleged that officers of the Shaheen Force extorted him at a checkpoint in District Central, subjected him to brutal torture at Sharifabad Police Station, and threatened him with a staged encounter, prompting authorities to order a formal investigation into the incident.

The victim, identified as Anwar Ali, owner of a poultry feed factory, told reporters that on Thursday, after attending Tarawih prayers, he was carrying biryani home from a nearby eatery when he was stopped by four men on two motorcycles near the railway crossing in Sharifabad. He alleged that the men, later identified as Shaheen Force personnel, demanded a bribe of Rs 2,000, despite him carrying Rs 58,000 in cash.

When Ali refused, the officers allegedly scrutinised his motorcycle documents and accused him of riding a stolen vehicle, then took him to Sharifabad Police Station. There, he claimed, the duty officer Asif, along with other personnel, confined him in a room and subjected him to unprovoked physical abuse in the presence of other detainees. The victim said he was also threatened with "high fire" in a staged encounter to intimidate him.

He added that an officer recorded his abuse on a phone call, which the SHO reportedly reviewed and reacted to, though other officers continued to intimidate him. SSP District Central Dr Imran confirmed that a formal inquiry has been assigned to DSP Liaquatabad.