ISLAMABAD: A suspect died in police custody here on Thursday, Dawn has learnt.

Earlier, the suspect, a labourer by profession and a resident of Thanda Pani, was arrested by police at a picket set up at Tumair Road on Feb 27 and a case was registered against him at Nilore police station over a recovery of heroin weighing 570grams from him, police and maternal uncle of the deceased told Dawn adding that since he was on physical remand which concluded on Thursday.

When contacted public relations officer (PRO) for the police confirmed the death of the suspect in the police custody. Preliminary finding of postmortem suggested that he died due to cardiac arrest, the PRO claimed.

The police department has decided to conduct a judicial inquiry into the death to ascertain the cause of the death and fix the responsibility, the PRO said.

Raja Akmal, the uncle of the deceased, told Dawn that a police team had picked up Badar Zaib from the area of Nilore. Later they demanded bribe from his younger brother for his release, however, as the family was poor, they failed to fulfill the demand, he alleged.

The relatives also made efforts to meet him in police custody, however, the police did not allow them to enter the police station, the uncle said, adding that on Thursday morning another uncle of Badar Ziab and brother reached lower court to file a petition against the highhandedness of the police and his recovery.

“However, they received a call from the police when they were preparing the petition, and asked to come Polyclinic ,” he claimed, adding when reached there they were informed information about his deathand despite their repeated request the police did not allow any of the family members and relative to see the body, by saying that an autopsy over the body is in progress.

When the police refused to hand over the body of the deceased, the relatives and family members staged a protest and blocked the road in front of Polyclinic, Akmal said, adding that the police told them that they would transport the body themselves for burial, as the relatives and family may stage a protest with the body.

Later, the body was handed over to the relatives after negotiation with a SP, he said, adding the body was taken to Nilore.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2024