FIA Registers FIR Against 5 On-Duty SHOs in Mandi Bahauddin for Alleged Kidnapping and Torture of Prominent Lawyer

Gujrat: In a shocking development, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against five on-duty Station House Officers (SHOs) from Mandi Bahauddin following a court order. The FIR was filed based on a complaint by prominent lawyer Afzal Bhatti, who alleged he was abducted and brutally tortured by the police to prevent him from representing certain accused individuals.

According to the details, the FIR includes serious allegations against SHO Kathiala Sheikhan, Sub-Inspector Hamid Nasir, Sub-Inspector Khurram Bosal, Sub-Inspector Naeem Mushtaq, Sub-Inspector Arsalan Gondal Ahmadana, Sub-Inspector Muhammad Saleem, Constable Sufiyan, and 30 unidentified police personnel.

Afzal Bhatti, a resident of Chak No. 39 and a practicing lawyer, stated in his complaint that on the morning of June 14, he was getting ready for work when a group of heavily armed police officers arrived at his residence in four official police vehicles and two private cars. Led by SHO Hamid Nasir and Khurram Shahzad Bosal, the officers allegedly violated the sanctity of his home, forcefully abducted him at gunpoint, and placed him in a private vehicle.

His family reportedly pleaded with the officers, but they too were threatened with severe consequences. Bhatti claims he was taken to a remote location outside the village at a livestock farm, where he was physically assaulted in front of two family members who had followed. He sustained multiple injuries and was allegedly warned to cease all legal representation or contact with certain individuals, namely Suleman Banto, Adnan, and Azhar, or face death.

The incident was brought before Additional Sessions Judge Asim Shehzad Bhatti in Mandi Bahauddin, who ordered an inquiry. Following the investigation, the FIA confirmed that 36 personnel were allegedly involved and that Afzal Bhatti suffered 12 injuries. Based on these findings and after consultation with senior officials, the FIA registered the FIR and has now launched an investigation to determine the individual role of each implicated officer.

This case marks yet another deeply troubling chapter in the history of Punjab Police, raising serious concerns about abuse of power and the targeting of legal professionals.