A 24-year-old man, who was admitted by his parents to a drug rehabilitation clinic in Rawalpindi's Panj Sarki area a week ago, died of alleged torture by the facility's medical staff on Saturday, DawnNews TV reported.

The victim's father told DawnNews TV that he had admitted his son — who had been using drugs for a year — at the said centre on Sept 9.

On Sept 13, the father said, that the centre had shown to him camera footage of his son in which he had looked healthy. However, on Sept 15 (Saturday), the facility's staff informed the parents that their son had suddenly died.

When the parents arrived at the centre, they found torture marks on the dead body while also noticing that their son's head had been shaved.

According to the father, the medical staff claimed that the deceased had tried to escape prior to his death, due to which he had to be restrained with ropes.

The victim's father accused the centre's doctors of giving his son electric shocks and beating him with belts.

Furthermore, the deceased's father said that the Civil Lines police station's officials were refusing to register a first information report (FIR) against the clinic.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Usman Tariq told DawnNews TV that the dead body has been sent to the District Headquarters Hospital for a post-mortem examination, and that police are awaiting the doctors' report.

ASP Tariq further said that if the post-mortem examination report identifies torture as the cause of death, police will register a case against the rehabilitation centre's doctors.

Opinion

Editorial

Gulf escalation
Updated 19 Jul, 2026

Gulf escalation

The threat of the war restarting and the conflict expanding is very real.
Looming monsoon
19 Jul, 2026

Looming monsoon

THE monsoon season is here. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a nationwide alert for widespread,...
Closing one file
19 Jul, 2026

Closing one file

ABDUL Rashid Wani was stopped by Indian soldiers near his home in Srinagar in July 1997. He never returned. Nearly...
GSP-Plus renewal
Updated 18 Jul, 2026

GSP-Plus renewal

THERE is no glossing over the fact that the country’s leadership faces tough choices in the months ahead. Brussels...
AJK engagement
18 Jul, 2026

AJK engagement

A WELCOME lowering of political temperatures appears to be underway in Azad Kashmir, as the region’s...
Delayed relief
18 Jul, 2026

Delayed relief

THE decision to defer the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage’s first funding approvals is a setback for...