An FIR has been filed at the Sindhri Police Station against several suspended police officials, including DIG Javed Soonharo Jiskani, SSP Mirpurkhas Mohammad Asad Chaudhry, and SSP Umerkot Asif Raza Baloch, among others. The charges stem from the alleged killing of Dr. Shahnawaz Kumbhar, a blasphemy suspect, under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
According to Mohammad Ibrahim Kumbhar, Dr. Kumbhar's brother-in-law, Shahnawaz was killed in a staged police encounter. He holds DIG Jiskani, the two SSPs, and religious leader Pir Umar Jan Sirhandi responsible for the murder. Kumbhar stated that his cousin had been undergoing treatment for mental health issues but was falsely accused of blasphemy after blasphemous content was posted on his Facebook account.
Dr. Kumbhar was reportedly arrested by police teams from Umerkot while in Karachi, following the registration of a case against him at the Taluka Police Station in Umerkot. He was later handed over to police officials in Mirpurkhas, where he was allegedly killed in a staged encounter. Kumbhar claims that after his death, his body was set ablaze by individuals incited by local police officials and clerics, including Pir Umar Jan Sirhandi.
The FIR also names other police officers, including inspectors Niaz Khoso, Inayat Zardari, Hidayatullah, Nadir Pervez, Ghulam Qadir Danish, and Farman Ali. As of the time of this report, no arrests have been made.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar ordered the registration of the FIR against those involved in the staged encounter following an inquiry conducted by DIGs Pervez Ahmed Chandio, Tariq Dharejo, Sherraz Nazeer Abbasi, and Shabir Ahmed Sethar.
Rights activists, who have been holding large protest rallies, welcomed the registration of the case against the police officials and clerics and are calling for their immediate arrest.