Giving in to grief: Man dies after learning of son’s detention
Family members claim SHO illegally detained and tortured Abdul Rasheed’s son.
The SHO could not be reached for comments but his subordinates confirmed Ali was arrested on charges of firing at Constable Arif, who was on rider’s duty on December 31, 2014. PHOTO: OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS/FILE
MANSEHRA:
A man died of a heart attack when he learnt his son was arrested on charges of firing at a police rider, police and family sources said on Tuesday.
Relatives of the deceased said the police picked up Awais Ali, 23, son of Abdul Rasheed of Mohallah Dhangri, on January 1 for allegedly firing at a rider of City police station on December 31, 2014.
When Ali’s family members approached the City police, they reportedly denied Ali’s arrest or that he was being interrogated. Ali’s father Abdul Rasheed, 69, then lodged a complaint at the district and sessions court of Mansehra, pleading for his son’s release. The court subsequently sent its bailiff to the city police station, but the officer failed to recover Ali and SHO Sajid Farooq denied Ali’s arrest.
When Ali’s father was informed his son could not be recovered, he collapsed and died of cardiac arrest, said family sources.
Angered by the attitude of the police, hundreds of residents protested on Monday afternoon and placed Rasheed’s body on the Karakoram Highway, blocking traffic and chanting slogans against the SHO who is being held responsible for his death.
Protesters later dispersed, but police registered a criminal case against over 50 persons for inciting villagers to block the road. The case was registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and sections 148, 149 and 506/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Seven protesters, Faisal, Khursheed, Waheed, Shafqat, Aslam, Rafiq and Ghulfam, were also arrested and raids to catch the rest of the accused are under way.
One of Awais Ali’s family members, Nadeem termed the registration of the case against protesters an act of vendetta to avoid legal action against the illegal detention and torture of Ali, which also led to the sudden death of his father.
Nadeem accused SHO Sajid Farooq of having a reputation for detaining subjects and subjecting them to inhumane and cruel treatment.
The SHO could not be reached for comments but his subordinates confirmed Ali was arrested on charges of firing at Constable Arif, who was on rider’s duty on December 31, 2014. They, however, added Ali’s arrest was properly recorded and he was sent on physical remand of five days by the area magistrate.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.
A man died of a heart attack when he learnt his son was arrested on charges of firing at a police rider, police and family sources said on Tuesday.
Relatives of the deceased said the police picked up Awais Ali, 23, son of Abdul Rasheed of Mohallah Dhangri, on January 1 for allegedly firing at a rider of City police station on December 31, 2014.
When Ali’s family members approached the City police, they reportedly denied Ali’s arrest or that he was being interrogated. Ali’s father Abdul Rasheed, 69, then lodged a complaint at the district and sessions court of Mansehra, pleading for his son’s release. The court subsequently sent its bailiff to the city police station, but the officer failed to recover Ali and SHO Sajid Farooq denied Ali’s arrest.
When Ali’s father was informed his son could not be recovered, he collapsed and died of cardiac arrest, said family sources.
Angered by the attitude of the police, hundreds of residents protested on Monday afternoon and placed Rasheed’s body on the Karakoram Highway, blocking traffic and chanting slogans against the SHO who is being held responsible for his death.
Protesters later dispersed, but police registered a criminal case against over 50 persons for inciting villagers to block the road. The case was registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and sections 148, 149 and 506/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Seven protesters, Faisal, Khursheed, Waheed, Shafqat, Aslam, Rafiq and Ghulfam, were also arrested and raids to catch the rest of the accused are under way.
One of Awais Ali’s family members, Nadeem termed the registration of the case against protesters an act of vendetta to avoid legal action against the illegal detention and torture of Ali, which also led to the sudden death of his father.
Nadeem accused SHO Sajid Farooq of having a reputation for detaining subjects and subjecting them to inhumane and cruel treatment.
The SHO could not be reached for comments but his subordinates confirmed Ali was arrested on charges of firing at Constable Arif, who was on rider’s duty on December 31, 2014. They, however, added Ali’s arrest was properly recorded and he was sent on physical remand of five days by the area magistrate.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2014.