Man dies after alleged torture in Lahore police custody

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

LAHORE: A 35-year-old man in Lahore died Saturday morning after what his family claim to be alleged torture during interrogation at the Green Town police station.

The police, however, say that Allah Rakha – a member of the Christian community who was taken into custody on Friday for purportedly selling narcotics – died of a heart attack.

The incident came to the notice of senior police officials when family members protested by burning tyres in front of the police station, pelting stones and trying to forcibly enter the premises.

Taking notice, DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf ordered that an FIR be lodged against the investigation officer and three constables from the Green Town station.

“We have taken notice and have suspended four police personnel from Green Town station. Cases have also been registered against them, and we will conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter,” said DIG Ashraf.

Ashraf said that the body has been sent for post-mortem, and that facts will be ascertained after the medical report is released.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

CM Maryam grills police officers over spike in crime across Punjab

Traffic fines cut by amending Motor Vehicles Bill in Punjab

Six Vietnamese deported from Lahore for suspicious travel papers

Arif Aslam Khan

Nov 22, 2014 07:44pm

Another saga of Police brutality in Punjab and usual reason of death as heart attack, Police Surgeon will confirm this & the culprits shall be re-instated to carry out this unending opression of Public !

Recommend 0

muhammad

Nov 22, 2014 07:54pm

Nothing going to happen to them Nawaz is behind those policemen..Lahore police is full of corruption.

Recommend 0

kkkhattak

Nov 22, 2014 08:34pm

sad news, concerned should look into the matter

Recommend 0

Amjad Wyne

Nov 22, 2014 08:40pm

A man is dead and the police officers are just suspended...what kind of a non-sense is this. The police officers should be in jail until the truth comes out.

Recommend 0

Pragmatist

Nov 22, 2014 08:41pm

Another helpless christian victim of fanatics.

Recommend 0

Winnerman

Nov 22, 2014 09:27pm

Police brutality at its height! Police is increasingly becoming a liability. It is useless and needs a big reform. Khadam-e-Ala Shahbaz should pay attention and immediately stop using police for VIP protocols.

Recommend 0

Nov 22, 2014 09:39pm

Plight minority is deplorable

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Nov 22, 2014 10:47pm

The culprits must be punished.

Recommend 0

MSAlvi

Nov 22, 2014 10:53pm

If the autopsy proves that the death occurred due to torture, the investigation officer and the constables involved should be hanged. Make this case an exemplary one.

Recommend 0

Muhammmed

Nov 22, 2014 11:03pm

Does not matter if he was selling drugs or not that is another matter. He certainly did not deserve to die at the hands of the police. Now they are saying he died of a heart attack. ..yet again our corrupt police will get away with MURDER.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Nov 23, 2014 12:47am

Business as usual in the kingdom of Shriefs.

Recommend 0

Abbas

Nov 23, 2014 02:01am

Another poor Christian, and they know no one will come to support the family in courts. Plz beware of last day.

Recommend 0

deva

Nov 23, 2014 05:11am

21 century is tough for Islam. I feel day by day followers of Islam feel insecure causing all these terrorist group creation. agree?

Recommend 0

Saj king khan

Nov 23, 2014 05:51am

My own colleague is in the police !!! He has killed at least 150 ppl in so called police encounters !!! Trust me it don't make it easier ! How one can kill is beyond ! That's why I don't live in Pakistan !!

Recommend 0

Asif

Nov 23, 2014 08:22am

@muhammad Wah bi Wah. Nawaz is behind them. Sdkay

Recommend 0

Mirza

Nov 23, 2014 08:22am

Since no ruling party at Fed and Provinces is demanding the punishment of Jihadist like Qadri who is preaching from jail our police is turning into jihadist organization like most rightwing parties and govt institutions. The VIP status of confessed killers like Qadri is fueling the jihadist culture. No rightwing party like PML, PTI and its coalition partner JI would want to see killers like Qadri be punished hence the jihadist culture is thriving even in our jails and security apparatus.

Recommend 0

indian

Nov 23, 2014 08:26am

This country is going to sink

Recommend 0

Asif

Nov 23, 2014 08:27am

@Amjad Wyne FIR has been lodged. Body is sent for Postmortem. Officials are suspended. Undoubtedly Narcotics creates heart attack. Should not both sides investigation be made? Media is very much there. You are there and so on. Do you know how one is sent to jail? If not then please find out.

Recommend 0

Kamran khan

Nov 23, 2014 11:12am

Christians in Pakistan are an endangered specie. The sooner they realize it the better it would be for their future generation. Pakistan is not suitable place for non-Muslims.

Recommend 0

Kamran khan

Nov 23, 2014 11:40am

@Mustafa no concept of justice in Pakistan my friend.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

The Bank of Punjab signs strategic MoU with Stacks to advance digital remittances and financial innovation

As part of this initiative, the two organisations will also undertake a pilot transaction to explore the use of stablecoins for remittances.

Koç Group’s home appliances company Beko invests $20 million in a manufacturing transformation at Dawlance

The inauguration underscores Koç Group’s continued commitment to advancing industrial capability and long-term investment in Pakistan.

Fatima Fertilizer and Multan Sultans celebrate Title Sponsorship with a grand meet and greet in Karachi

The event brought this partnership to life, giving Fatima Fertilizer’s dealer network and farming community an up-close experience with their cricket heroes.