KARACHI – Sindh’s Home Minister Zia Lanjhar has stated that Dr Shahnawaz, accused of blasphemy, was killed in a staged police encounter in Umerkot.
Dr Shahnawaz, accused of sharing blasphemous posts on social media, was killed during a gun battle with the police in Mirpurkhas on Sept 19.
In a press conference alongside the Inspector General of Sindh, Lanjhar said that investigations have shown the police encounter was entirely false.
The report on the Umerkot incident consists of 31 pages, and police officials will face charges in connection with this fake encounter. He added that if Dr Shahnawaz’s family does not file an FIR, the Sindh government will do so.
The Sindh Interior Minister emphasised that protecting the lives and property of the public is the government’s responsibility. He announced the appointment of a new DIG in Mirpurkhas, while the SSP of Mirpurkhas has been suspended and ordered to face charges. The investigation has been completed and the report submitted to the Chief Minister of Sindh.
Lanjhar stated that the investigative committee has confirmed the encounter was fake and that extrajudicial killings are unacceptable. Six FIRs have been filed, and investigations are still ongoing. Following these FIRs, a new DIG has been appointed, and they wish to conduct inquiries against their own officials.
He mentioned that there is a process for judicial inquiries, stating that if an FIR is not filed, then a judicial inquiry takes place.
