Two cops arrested, SIU DSP, SHO suspended over custodial death

Taking notice of a custodial death case, the Karachi police chief, Additional IG Khadim Hussain Rind, has suspended the DSP and SHO of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Karachi.

Officials said the Karachi additional IG directed the suspended SHO Ateeq Hussain Shah of the SIU and Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) and report to the Police Headquarters, Garden. Separately, SIU-CIA DSP Saeed Ahmed Rind was also suspended and told to report to the Karachi Police Office (KPO).

After reports emerged that a prisoner had died in the custody of the SIU, the Karachi police chief directed the CIA DIG, Ahmed Nawaz, to investigate the incident. On Saturday, January 13, DIG Nawaz visited the SIU police station for investigations. It was revealed during the inquiry that on the night between January 11 and 12, a man, Nizamuddin, son of Mohammad Shafi, was brought to the SIU for interrogation.

He was to be interrogated in connection cases, including those registered under the Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, at the Orangi Town and Manghopir police stations.During the investigation, the accused died at around 5am, and the investigation team left his body on a plot in his residential area in Manghopir. A case has been registered for his death under the Section 322/365/34 at the Manghopir police station.

A spokesperson for the KPO said former SIU ASI Sajid and Police Constable Shadab had already been arrested in connection with the case and raids were being conducted to arrest ASI Aqeel and a private person. Recommendations are also being sent for departmental action over negligence of other SIU officers.