The government of Pakistan has made a startling revelation, stating that police were responsible for the death of a doctor who was in custody following blasphemy accusations. The doctor, Shah Nawaz, surrendered to authorities in the district of Mirpur Khas after being accused of insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad and sharing blasphemous content on social media.
Contrary to initial reports of a shootout between police and armed men resulting in Nawaz's death, a government probe revealed that it was a staged 'fake encounter' orchestrated by security forces. The Interior Minister confirmed that there was no exchange of fire as claimed by the police.
Following Nawaz's death, a mob seized his body from his father and set it on fire, escalating tensions in the region. The family of the deceased has demanded justice, calling for the police officers involved in the killing to face the same fate as their son under the 'eye-for-an-eye' principle of Sharia law.
Blasphemy allegations in Pakistan often lead to violent reactions, with mobs taking matters into their own hands. While extrajudicial killings by police are rare, this incident sheds light on the challenges posed by the country's blasphemy laws.
Nawaz's mother expressed her desire for swift punishment for her son's killers to serve as a deterrent against future extrajudicial killings. The case of Shah Nawaz adds to the growing concerns over the misuse of blasphemy laws and the need for accountability within the law enforcement agencies.
This tragic incident follows another extrajudicial killing earlier this month in Quetta, where a suspect accused of blasphemy was shot dead by a police officer inside a station. The officer responsible for the killing has been apprehended, highlighting the complexities surrounding blasphemy-related cases in Pakistan.
