Death in custody?: Police reluctant to arrest colleagues
ASI, two constables were booked on April 12 for alleged murder of Christian man.
Photo of Islamabad police. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The police are apparently showing reluctance in arresting their colleagues who were booked in the alleged murder of a suspected thief.
On April 12, three policemen, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shahid Muneer, constables Habib and Waseem, were booked under sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code for the alleged murder of Farman Masih.
Despite the registration of FIR against the policemen on the complaint of Masih’s family, the Industrial Area police seem reluctant to make the arrests.
Sources said the police were considering settling the matter with the victim’s family. They have not approached the victim’s family formally but was considering settling the issue with the family, said a police source.
According to the police, Masih was arrested for stealing car batteries.
The victim’s family had claimed that the police brutally tortured Masih and pushed him into a stream in Essa Nagri, Sector I-9/1.
Following the incident, the police allegedly did not even listen to the victim’s family and pushed them out of the police station, stated the FIR.
Investigation officer of the case Muhammad Aslam said the three policemen were not arrested yet and were still at large. The officer said their mobile numbers were found powered off despite repeated attempts.
“It would be a tough moment for me to arrest my fellows with whom I have worked for the past several years” said Aslam, adding he was waiting for orders from higher authorities.
Asjad Mehmood, newly-appointed SHO of the Industrial Area, confirmed to The Express Tribune that the policemen were not arrested yet. “They know how the police operate and that’s how they have avoided being arrested so far,” he added.
Mehmood claimed that the police had raided their houses but did not succeed in arresting them. When asked why the police was reluctant to arrest the policemen despite registration of the FIR, the SHO said the police would follow merit and they would be arrested.
Babo David Iqbal, supervisor of the Catholic Church Essa Nagri told The Express Tribune that he was surprised to know that the police had not arrested the accused so far.
He said that for the last three days they were busy in the memorial service of the deceased, and they would now approach the police station. Police must never torture even a murderer, how did they kill a suspected man without any proof, questioned Iqbal.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2015.
The police are apparently showing reluctance in arresting their colleagues who were booked in the alleged murder of a suspected thief.
On April 12, three policemen, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shahid Muneer, constables Habib and Waseem, were booked under sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code for the alleged murder of Farman Masih.
Despite the registration of FIR against the policemen on the complaint of Masih’s family, the Industrial Area police seem reluctant to make the arrests.
Sources said the police were considering settling the matter with the victim’s family. They have not approached the victim’s family formally but was considering settling the issue with the family, said a police source.
According to the police, Masih was arrested for stealing car batteries.
The victim’s family had claimed that the police brutally tortured Masih and pushed him into a stream in Essa Nagri, Sector I-9/1.
Following the incident, the police allegedly did not even listen to the victim’s family and pushed them out of the police station, stated the FIR.
Investigation officer of the case Muhammad Aslam said the three policemen were not arrested yet and were still at large. The officer said their mobile numbers were found powered off despite repeated attempts.
“It would be a tough moment for me to arrest my fellows with whom I have worked for the past several years” said Aslam, adding he was waiting for orders from higher authorities.
Asjad Mehmood, newly-appointed SHO of the Industrial Area, confirmed to The Express Tribune that the policemen were not arrested yet. “They know how the police operate and that’s how they have avoided being arrested so far,” he added.
Mehmood claimed that the police had raided their houses but did not succeed in arresting them. When asked why the police was reluctant to arrest the policemen despite registration of the FIR, the SHO said the police would follow merit and they would be arrested.
Babo David Iqbal, supervisor of the Catholic Church Essa Nagri told The Express Tribune that he was surprised to know that the police had not arrested the accused so far.
He said that for the last three days they were busy in the memorial service of the deceased, and they would now approach the police station. Police must never torture even a murderer, how did they kill a suspected man without any proof, questioned Iqbal.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2015.