BAHAWALNAGAR: The stationhouse master (SHO) of the Haroonabad City Police Station has been suspended from service while four other police officials have been booked on the charges of keeping a citizen in illegal custody, torturing him at a private torture cell and demanding bribe for his release.

The first information report (FIR) registered with the City Haroonabad police on the complaint of Tasleem Bibi of Rehmat Town said that on Feb 6 at about 8:30pm, ASI Syed Fazal Abbas Shah along with three constables broke into her house without warrants and took her husband, Muhammad Asif, to the police station.

The policemen tortured Asif too as they took him into custody. Later,, the ASI demanded Rs200,000 bribe from the family to release Asif.

Bibi further alleged that SHO Rao Shahid also demanded a huge amount for the release of her husband when the family approached him.

The FIR said Asif, who had no FIR registered against him, was not wanted by police in any case and the policemen arrested, tortured and starved him at a private torture cell to extort money.

A senior police official, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that on learning about the incident of abduction and torture of a citizen by the police, Bahawalnagar District Police Officer Naseebullah Khan on Feb 14 sent the SP investigations to the Haroonabad City Police Station for an inquiry. The SP confirmed the incident and held the police officers responsible.

At this, the DPO suspended SHO Rao Shahid and initiated an inquiry into the charges leveled against him and other police officials. A case was also registered against them.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2024