RAWALPINDI: A man died in police custody at the New Town police station on Monday.

According to police, the officials who brought the man, identified as 23-year-old Shaki, to the station have been taken into protective custody by the police. Police also said that an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances of the man’s death.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Mohammad Faisal told Dawn that the man appeared to have died a natural death and the police did not find trauma marks on the body, but an inquiry has been ordered to determine how he died.

“If torture is confirmed in the post-mortem report, the responsible police officials will be treated according to the law,” he said.

Police said the man was on a motorcycle with another person in the New Town police area when he was taken into custody. A patrolling team signalled the motorcycle to stop but the riders ignored the police. However, they were intercepted by police after a brief chase.

Police said one of the riders was held while the other escaped. The man, Shaki, was taken to the New Town police station where his condition deteriorated. Although he was taken to a hospital, he did not survive.

The family of the deceased, who was a resident of Dhoke Naju and had a one-year-old daughter, have accused the police of torturing him. Mohammad Shakeel, the deceased’s brother, claimed his brother was tortured to death by police.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2019