KARACHI: A man, held for his alleged involvement in an extortion case on Sunday, died in police custody on Monday under controversial circumstances.

Police said that suspect Junaid was arrested for allegedly demanding protection money from Seaview resident Abdul Basit.

He was brought to the Darakhshan police station and kept in the lock-up. However, he was found dead on Monday, the police said.

The police claimed that apparently the suspect died of a heart attack.

However, the body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of his death.

A police spokesperson said in a statement that DIG-South Syed Asad Raza took notice of the death of the suspect in the lock-up of the Darakhshan police station and ordered an inquiry.

He said that Saddar SP was appointed as the inquiry officer and he was asked to submit probe findings within 24 hours.

The DIG also suspended Darakhshan SHO Ali Raza Leghari.

The police said that the suspect was booked in a case registered under Sections 384 (Punishment for extortion) and 385 (Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The complainant informed the police that a man, identified as Moiz Naseem, contacted him over the phone and asked him to pay protection money.

He said that Junaid visited his residence on Naseem’s behalf and collected a total of Rs1.6 million on different occasions.

He said when he refused to give more money the suspect threatened him of fire consequences. On April 14, he called Junaid to his home and informed the Darakhshan police who arrested him.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2024