Suspension of 5 cops ordered over man’s ‘custodial torture’ at Karachi’s Sharifabad police station

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Two personnel of the Sindh Police stand guard on a road. —AFP/File
Two personnel of the Sindh Police stand guard on a road. —AFP/File

KARACHI: Central Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Imran Khan on Sunday ordered the suspension of five cops for their alleged involvement in the custodial torture of a man at the city’s Sharifabad police station.

According to a statement issued by the Sindh Police’s Central District branch, SSP Imran took serious notice of the alleged incident and issued directives for the five cops to be suspended.

The statement noted that an initial inquiry was conducted by the Liaquatabad sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) on the orders of the Central SSP.

According to the probe, four personnel of Sindh Police’s Shaheen Force and a sentry of the Sharifabad police station were found to be involved in the torture.

“All five personnel were immediately suspended and the [case] was closed, while further departmental inquiry is under way,” the Central District police statement read.

“Further departmental action will be taken after the inquiry has been completed,” it added.

SSP Imran warned, “Unlawful and unethical behaviour towards citizens would not be tolerated, and indiscriminate action will be taken against police officers and personnel violating the law.”

On Wednesday, a large number of people gathered outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday to protest the killing of a man during an alleged encounter by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

The protest and a petition before the Sindh High Court (SHC) came after the CTD said its officials had conducted a raid on a house in Shah Latif Town on a terrorist hideout.

However, the man’s family said the deceased was a student who was earlier arrested by law enforcers and termed it a “fake encounter”.

Earlier this month, PTI leaders presented journalists with what they described as “evidence” of torture allegedly inflicted on them during their detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.

In October 2025, seven policemen were suspended after a “teenage boy” died under controversial circumstances in the custody of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Sindh Police.

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