Court gives FIA last deadline to arrest cops in Shahnawaz murder case

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court in Mirpurkhas has issued a final warning to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest and six absconding police officers, including DIG Javed Juskani and SSP Asad Ali Choudhry, in the high-profile Dr. Shahnawaz Kunbhar murder case.

The court expressed strong displeasure over the agency’s failure to apprehend the accused and adjourned the hearing until May 27.

All the six police officers including DIG Juskani and SSP Asad have been on the run for last eight months. The hearing, held in the Anti-Terrorism Court, has become increasingly tense due to repeated non-appearances of key suspects. The court directed the FIA to ensure the arrest of the fugitives, warning of strict consequences if the agency fails to comply. Dr. Shahnawaz Kunbhar, a senior medical officer at the Umerkot District Headquarters Hospital, was accused of blasphemy on September 17, 2024, by a local cleric, Sabir Soomro, over alleged content shared on social media.

The accusation ignited riots in Umerkot, with angry mobs attacking police vehicles and causing widespread unrest. In response, Umerkot police arrested and claimed to place Dr. Kunbhar in “protective custody” on September 18. However, within 24 hours, he was declared dead in what police initially described as a police encounter in the Sindhri area of Mirpurkhas.