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| July 31, 2006 | Monday | Rajab 4, 1427 |
Extra-judicial killings up
LAHORE, July 30: With the death of a youth in Tibbi police custody, the number of extra-judicial killings during the last six months has risen to 30, putting a question mark on the much touted police reforms.
Interestingly, in none of the cases officials responsible have been taken to task.
Ata Muhammad, sub-inspector of Tibbi investigation police, who has allegedly tortured Amer Shahzad, alia Billa (22) of Koocha Baili Ram, Lohari Gate, to death, is still at large as a raiding party has been dispatched to his native house in Mianwali to find a clue to him.
The provincial authorities have, however, suspended him and Tibbi police station supervising officer ASP Shujaat Ali Khan and moharrar Farooq Ali Khan.
SI Ata and a couple of constables had arrested Amer from his house and allegedly seized an unlicenced pistol from his custody.
The police suspected that he was involved in a robbery case, though there was no case registered against him.
Amer was lodged in a police station room where investigators used third degree on him, badly rupturing the main artery. As profound bleeding deteriorated his condition, he was first taken to a Yakki Gate medical aid centre and then to the Mayo Hospital owing to his precarious condition. He died on the way to the hospital.
The incident created a law and order situation as heirs of Amer and area people took out a protest procession and marched towards the police station brick batting and damaging shops on the way.
The police allegedly tried to cover up their crime by fabricating a suicide story.
Law minister Muhammad Basharat Raja and city police (operations) chief DIG Amir Zulfiqar Khan came to the police station and got registered a murder case against SI Ata as was demanded by Imtiaz, the father of the victim.
Two raiding teams made abortive bids to arrest the accused policeman who had fled his house in the city immediately after learning about the registration of a murder case against him. —Staff Reporter
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