Islamabad:In a significant update regarding the alleged extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shanawaz, who was accused of blasphemy, authorities have decided to exhume his body for a post-mortem examination. The police surgeon has formally requested the Director General of Health to facilitate the exhumation.
Investigation Officer Aslam Jageerani confirmed that the medical team will travel to Dr. Shanawaz’s village, Janhiro, for this purpose. The family has raised suspicions of torture prior to his death, further complicating the case.
Meanwhile, in a related case in Umar Kot, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Mirpurkhas heard proceedings regarding arson and the burning of police vehicles linked to the blasphemy allegations. Nine accused individuals were presented in court, with hearings for their bail applications postponed until tomorrow.
The incident dates back to the night of September 18, 2024, when Sindhri police claimed Dr. Shanawaz was killed in an alleged encounter. Following the incident, a murder case was filed at the Sindhri police station, including charges of murder and terrorism against 15 individuals, including the SHO and several officers. Former DIG Javed Jaskani, former SSP Mirpurkhas Asad Chaudhry, and former SSP Umar Kot Asif Raza Baloch were also named in the FIR.
On September 26, during a press conference in Karachi, Sindh’s Interior Minister asserted that action would be taken against all involved parties, stating that if the victim’s family did not file a complaint, the state would proceed to register an FIR.
On October 11, the Sindh Human Rights Commission presented a report to the government regarding Dr. Shanawaz’s murder, which indicated that the SSPs of Mirpurkhas and Umar Kot, along with the DIG, initially denied Dr. Shanawaz’s arrest but later admitted to detaining him from Karachi. The report highlighted a lack of technical assistance from the FIA post-incident and noted that the autopsy report was delayed for two days while the medical officer was reportedly absent.
The report calls for the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to determine accountability for Dr. Shanawaz’s murder, underscoring the ongoing controversy surrounding this tragic case.
