ISLAMABAD – A case has been registered against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tarnol Police Station and several other police personnel following the custodial death of a suspect, allegedly due to torture and illegal detention.
The deceased, Nauman Khan, a resident of Mianwali, was arrested by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Rana Muhammad Saleem along with constables Zaheer Ahmed and Sajid Mahmood on July 10 in connection with a theft and murder case. However, authorities failed to formally record his arrest, raising suspicions of unlawful detention.
According to the initial inquiry, Khan was taken out of the lock-up late at night and brought to the interrogation room, where he was allegedly tortured. He was later returned to the cell in critical condition. Fellow detainees witnessed his deteriorating health and alerted the duty officer.
Sub-Inspector Tariq Mahmood, who filed the complaint, stated that Khan, before losing consciousness, accused ASI Saleem and the two constables of beating him during interrogation. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In addition to the three officers directly involved in the interrogation, SHO Shaukat Mahmood and Head Constable Muhammad Asif have also been named in the FIR for failing to follow legal procedures and allowing unlawful detention.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken over the case and formed a four-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) led by an assistant director. The investigation will focus on charges of murder, torture, and abuse of authority.
Human rights advocates have condemned the incident, calling it a blatant violation of constitutional rights and a grim reminder of unchecked custodial violence in the country. The incident has reignited calls for police reform and strict accountability for custodial misconduct.
Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation, and the FIA has assured that those found guilty will face the full force of the law.
