Conflicting versions: Mysterious killing raises questions

Family of a man axed to death wants justice

LAHORE: Farzana Bibi got to hear the news of her husband’s death over the phone. What was more shocking was that he was murdered by a policeman in a lock-up hundreds of miles away from his home.  Syed Tufail Haider Naqvi, a resident of Aaso Balal, a village some 35 kilometers from Jhang, was axed to death by an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Faraz Naveed in Civil Lines Police Station Gujrat on November 5.

His wife and four kids, hundreds of miles away from where Naqvi was killed, still await an official word as to what actually happened. The case, which is being termed unique, has failed to jolt government officials.

“Those who die in bomb blasts are given compensation by the government. He was the only breadwinner of our family but nobody from the government has even contacted us, what to say of compensation. He was murdered in police custody and by a policeman, but no government official even thought about his family,” said Farzana, talking to The Express Tribune.

The case is being heard by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Gujranwala and the accused ASI is in custody. However, what really happened between him and Naqvi remains a mystery.

Police officials claim Naqvi committed blasphemy but locals give a different version of the story. The police version stated that ASI Faraz went to arrest Naqvi as he got a phone call from a complainant about a brawl. But there is no record to confirm this claim. ASI Faraz, they say, brought Naqvi to police station where there was exchange of hot words. ASI Faraz then picked up an axe and hit Naqvi on the neck killing him on the spot. The policeman then surrendered and was booked.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2015.