SHEIKHUPURA, Sept 23: The chief minister has taken a serious notice of death in custody of an alleged accused and deputed the Nankana Sahib DPO as inquiry officer. Sharqpur police arrested deceased Azmatullah and two others, Shaukat Ali and Zahid Ali, some four days back and kept them in illegal custody.
Heirs of the deceased alleged that the condition of Azmat deteriorated when ASI Munir Ahmed tortured him severely. They said he was shifted to a private hospital in precarious condition where he died.
Haji Muhammad Anwar, the deceased’s brother-in-law, said the police had arrested Azmat and two others on suspicion of having involved in a dacoity case. However, he said the police could recover nothing from them during their three-day unlawful detention.
He said that Shaukat’s wife Shahida Bibi found the condition of the deceased serious due to torture by investigators when she reached the police station with a basket of lunch for them. He said the ASI vanished from the hospital after the death of Azmat.
Meanwhile, the police claimed that the deceased along with some others had gone to Shaukat Ali’s house where his wife Shahida Bibi served him meal. After taking meal, the deceased felt pain in his stomach.
Police sources said, in the meanwhile, ASI Munir Ahmad raided the house and rounded up Azmat on suspicion of having his involvement in a motorcycle-snatching incident. The inmates begged the ASI to leave him for his serious condition, but he took him to the police station where he tortured him severely.
Owing to his critical condition, they said the ASI handed over the accused to the complainant who shifted him to hospital, but he expired there.
Sharqpur police have registered a murder case against ASI Munir Ahmad and Shahida Bibi.
Meanwhile, DPO Syed Ibne Husain said the ASI had been suspended while a departmental action would be taken against the policemen found guilty in an inquiry being conducted by ASP Asher Hameed.
He said action would also be taken against SHO Ahmad Ali Goraya and investigation cell in charge Zahid Shah.
The Sheikhupura DPO said district and sessions judge Allah Buksh Ranja was also requested to hold a judicial inquiry.
Nankana Sahib DPO Tahir Alam said he had received a fax from the CM’s House to probe the matter and submit report to the chief minister immediately.
He said the cause of the death, either poison or torture, would reveal only after the post-mortem report.