FAISALABAD: Seven policemen were suspended for allegedly setting a man on fire, who later succumbed to his burns at a hospital.

However, the suspects were booked under section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), instead of section 302.

The action against the suspects was taken on the complaint of the victim’s father, Tahir Tanveer of Bhaiwala village.

In his complaint, Tanveer had alleged that on Feb 6 last he came to know that some policemen manning Bhaiwala post had tortured his son Shan Haider and then set him ablaze. As a result the victim suffered 65 percent burns.

He was admitted to hospital, where he remained under treatment and succumbed to his burns on March 21.

He said that he submitted an application for action against the suspects -- assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ahad Hussain, head constable Javeed Bashir, constables Yousaf, Akbar, Fazal Abbas, Azhar Aamir and an other man, Suffyan was submitted.

The FIR reads that the suspects had been found guilty after an inquiry.

Tanveer said some acquaintances of the suspects, Akbar, Yousaf and Fazal, kept offering him money for withdrawal of the case, but he rejected the offer.

He also had the record of mobile phone calls made by Akbar, threatening him with dire consequences if he pursued the case, the FIR reads.

The complainant alleged that Akbar had also misbehaved with his wife.

The City Police Officer (CPO) Suhail Chaudhry said all the policemen involved in this case had been suspended from service.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2021