LAHORE: The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF) has condemned the killing of Zubair Masih, a 25-year-old man allegedly tortured by police officials at the Harbanspura police station.

According to a CICF press release, not being able to endure infliction, Zubair died on March 7. His mother, Ayesha Bibi, was accused by Abdul Jabbar Pathan, a wealthy landlord of the area, of stealing things from his house where she worked as a domestic worker.

On an application submitted by Jabbar, investigation officer Siraj of Harbanspura police along with the complainant and an unidentified man detained Ayesha along with Zubair and her brother Arshad Masih in a private torture cell in Yousafnagar Shamzabad, Bund Road, where they tortured Arshad and Zubair, the document read.

When police failed to obtain a false confession from Ayesha, they released her. However, her son and brother were detained and were continuously tortured, which resulted in Zubair’s death.

Expressing anger and sorrow over the incident, CICF President Michelle Chaudhry said: “Such acts of violence by police are absolutely unacceptable; it is the responsibility of police to protect citizens and not to torture and kill them. If law-enforcements agencies fail to protect citizens then who do we turn to for protection and justice?”

The CICF demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident and also requested the chief minister to ensure justice is served and those responsible for this brutal act were held accountable.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play