SAHIWAL, Dec 29: Police registered a murder case against four Chichawattni police officials for allegedly torturing an under-custody suspect who later died in hospital.

Haq Nawaz, of 104 /7-R in Harrapa, died at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Sahiwal on Dec 25. His brother Fayaz alleged Haq Nawaz was called by Chichawattni Saddar police on Dec 20 in connection with a car dacoity which occurred on Dec 19. He said police held his brother for three days and severely tortured him. When his condition deteriorated, police shifted him to the DHQ Hospital on Dec 24.

Chichawattni Sub-Inspector Muhammad Hanif said police had called Haq Nawaz on Dec 23 because it had traced phone calls of Haq Nawaz to the car dacoity victim.

“Haq Nawaz came to the police station on the morning of Dec 23 and he stayed for two hours here and then went back,” Hanif said.

Station House Officer (SHO) Hafiz Saeed said Haq Nawaz had died in hospital and that "we are not responsible for his death which occurred in hospital”.

Superintendent of Police (investigation) Ahmed Nawaz said they were waiting for chemical examination report but early autopsy reports showed there were no torture marks on the body.

When family of the deceased insisted that Haq Nawaz died in Chichawattni police custody, police registered a case against SHO Hafiz Saeed, SI Muhammad Hanif and two other unidentified constables.