Islamabad : A disturbing trend of custodial deaths has shaken the federal capital, with four separate incidents in just two months raising questions about the police's role in upholding the law.
The latest case involves the alleged torture and killing of an 18-year-old labourer, Arshad, from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, who was detained by Islamabad Capital Territory Police.
A grieving family has leveled serious allegations of extrajudicial killing against the Islamabad Capital Territory Police, claiming that their 18-year-old son was tortured to death in custody before his killing was staged as a police encounter.
The victim, identified as Arshad, a resident of Sharda, Muzaffarabad, had reportedly traveled to the federal capital on February 28 to find labor work to support his impoverished family, including his disabled father and six younger siblings. According to his parents, Arshad was staying with his grandmother in the Pir Wadhai area when he was allegedly detained by personnel from the Sabzi Mandi Police Station.
The youth's mother, recounting the harrowing ordeal, stated that after Arshad went missing, police initially denied his whereabouts before claiming he was hospitalised. Upon reaching the facility, she was abruptly told to take her son's body away. She alleged that police officials pressured the family into taking the remains, threatening further ‘trouble’ if they did not comply immediately. The police version of events suggested that the teenager had attacked an SHO with a 12-bore pistol, resulting in a retaliatory shootout; however, the family maintains that Arshad had no criminal record and was physically incapable of such an act.
The victim's father, Dilpazir, who was hospitalised for kidney issues at the time of the incident, disputed the official narrative of a "police encounter." He asserted that upon examining the body and video evidence, there were no visible bullet wounds. Instead, he described signs of severe physical trauma and "tearing" of the body, which he believes indicates death by torture. He added that the police failed to provide an FIR or a formal medical autopsy report despite promising to do so within ten days of the incident.
Three months after the tragedy, the family claims they are still awaiting justice and transparency. Driven to desperation and having to beg for travel fare to reach Islamabad to voice their grievances, the parents are now demanding a fair inquiry and the exhumation of Arshad's body for an independent post-mortem examination. They have made an urgent appeal to the Interior Minister, the Inspector General of Police, and senior Islamabad officials to investigate the Sabzi Mandi police’s conduct and provide accountability for the loss of their sole breadwinner.
A chief of inquiry team engaged in the investigation of the case, when contacted on his mobile phone and later SMS, didn’t respond.
