Police threatening slain man’s family

Published September 26, 2003

DERA GHAZI KHAN, Sept 25: The police are threatening the family of Allah Bakhsh Sheikh who was killed when a bullet fired by a police official hit him during an encounter with an alleged proclaimed offender on Sept 7.

Kot Mubarik police raided the house in Mauza Pir Aadil to arrest proclaimed offender Ishaq Gormani. They had an exchange of fire in which an Elite Force member was killed and SHO of Kot Mubarik sustained bullet injuries. On it, police opened indiscriminate firing on the accused who was hiding in a cotton field. A bullet hit Allah Bakhsh Sheikh, 19, who died on the spot.

It is learnt that police did not register a case and tried to conceal the matter by giving Rs14,000 to the family of Allah Bakhsh.

When the matter was reported by the national press, Kot Mubarik and Dera police authorities started threatening the family and asked them not to talk to newsmen.

The brother of the deceased, Ghulam Farid, told Dawn that his family was being threatened by those police officers who had given them money. He urged authorities concerned to take up the case.

He said the family wanted to pay back the money but police refused to accept it.

It may be remembered that three days after the encounter, police claimed that it found the body of Gormani from the fields which was buried by police and municipality without fulfilling the funeral rituals.