GUJAR KHAN: Four out of the eight police officials were granted pre-arrest bail on Wednesday in the custodial death case of an alleged robber at Gujar Khan police station on July 17.

An FIR under Section 302 of the PPC had been registered against the officials of the Gujar Khan and Civil Lines police stations on the complaint of SHO Gujar Khan Malik Kashif Iqbal after the victim was buried without an autopsy.

According to local court sources, on Wednesday, ASIs Sajid Saqlain and Babar Ali, and constable Husnain of police post Qazian filed their applications for pre-arrest and ad-interim bails in the court of additional sessions judge that were granted by ASJ Abdullah Usman. The pre-arrest and ad-interim plea of Mohammad Ishaq, sub-inspector of police station Civil Lines had been granted by the same court on Tuesday.

Others nominated in the FIR include ASI Liaqat Ali, constables Abid Ali and Abdullah of Civil Lines police station and ASI Saqib Sheraz, in charge Qazian police post.

Zeeshan, a resident of Jhanda Chichi in Rawalpindi, was initially detained by Civil Lines police station in a theft case and on Tuesday night was handed over to Gujar Khan police. His condition reportedly deteriorated after which he was brought to a private hospital in Bewal Town where he died on Wednesday noon.

Following his death, there were protests by the bereaved family which was later pacified after efforts from the local police. The body was moved from the THQ hospital without an autopsy and buried in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

The city police officer Rawalpindi removed Sikandar Joiya from the post of SHO of Civil Lines police station whilefour officials posted at Qazian police post were suspended and charge sheets issued against them.

The duty magistrate and civil judge taking strict notice ordered registration of the FIR along with the postmortem but Zeeshan was buried without codal formalities. Hence, the magistrate issued directions to the medical superintendent of the DHQ hospital Rawalpindi to arrange exhumation and medical examination of the body.

The FIR was registered against all the aforementioned police personnel over the ‘complaint’ of SHO Gujar Khan himself, as the bereaved family ’reconciled’ with police.

The postmortem was conducted on July 22 after which the medical team dispatched samples and specimens to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency Lahore for examination to determine the exact cause of death.

The superintendent of police investigations, Rawalpindi has also initiated investigations against the police officials of both police stations nominated in the FIR under Section 302PPC.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2024