Cop shoots 70-year-old blasphemy convict in jail

Eight officials suspended for allowing the constable to enter the barracks with a weapon

RAWALPINDI:

A policeman on Thursday shot and injured a 70-year-old Briton of Pakistani origin accused of blasphemy and imprisoned in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. The man, identified as Muhammad Asghar, was convicted of committing blasphemy and sentenced to death by a court. 

SHO Raja Rashid said an FIR was registered by ASP Adiala Muhammad Afzal against the suspect, constable Muhammad Yousaf, a resident of Chiniot. “Yousaf entered the jail’s restricted area with a pistol and dagger. He told the guards at the gate that he had a headache and wanted to visit an Indian prisoner who is also a healer,” Rashid said. However, instead of going to the Indian prisoner’s barrack, Yousaf went to Asghar’s cell and shot him in the ribs once.

The SHO said Yousaf’s pistol then stopped working and he was arrested. Asghar, who has a history of mental illness, was shifted to the hospital inside the jail before he was taken to Holy Family Hospital. He is in stable condition. Police recovered the pistol, dagger and two chambers with 17 bullets. Eight others have been suspended for allowing the constable to enter the barracks with a weapon.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2014.