Tortured to death: Man dies in police custody

BAHAWALPUR: An official inquiry was launched on Tuesday against Saddar police after an inmate died in custody. Fifty-five year old Shabbir Ahmad, a resident of Baba Ghareeb Shah Colony, was taken in custody by policemen on Monday. He was pronounced dead on Tuesday at a local hospital. Shahid, a son of the deceased, told reporters that his father used to work at a car showroom. “Early on Monday, he was walking to work when policemen from Saddar station, led by ASI Ismaeel, stopped him for questioning. They later took him to the police station, where they severely beat him up. He was then taken to the hospital where he died,” Shahid said. Talking to reporter at the hospital, DSP (Legal) Javed Iqbal Bajwa said that a departmental inquiry had been ordered into the death. “We will take action if it is proved that Ahmad died from police torture,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2014.