Punjab Additional Advocate General Khadim Hussain Qaiser informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that eight police officials who have been found guilty of torture killing of one Nazir Ahmad in the judicial enquiry have been arrested u/s 302 PPC read with section 156 Police Order, 2002.
Taking suo motu notice on an application of Mst Sharifan Bibi, a widow, R/O Dera Rohiwala Mashmoola Ghang, Sheikhpura, about the death of her son Nazir Ahmad in police custody, the court had directed the district and sessions judge, Sheikhupura, to hold a judicial inquiry and submit his findings to the court
On court notice, Sheikhupura District Police Officer (DPO) Aslam Tareen appeared before the court in this human rights case and submitted that "on 27/6/06, one Yaser Dogar along with his gunman Nazir Ahmad were abducted by 8/9 accused persons near "Same Nala" on Sheikhpura - Hafizabad Road. "Thereafter, the dead body of Yaser Dogar was found in the area of Chak No 13, PS Sharaqpur, district Sheikhupura, but his gunman Nazir Ahmad escaped", he added.
The DPO also submitted that the complainant of this case alleged that the gunman of Yaser Dogar, deceased, was also involved in this incident, therefore, Nazir Ahmad was also arrested, but he died during interrogation by the police.
He said that on orders of the district & sessions Judge, Sheikhupura, the Illaqa magistrate conducted a judicial enquiry into the death of Nazir Ahmad, and found eight police officials guilty of the death of Nazir Ahmad. The guilty police officials included Inspector Hassan Farooq, Inspector Zahid Zaman Khan, Inspector Ghulam Fareed, ASI Mohammad Aslam Mohal, ASI Saif Akbar, HC Tanveer Ahmad, HC Baber Naseem, and & Constable Asad.
The DPO also submitted that in light of the judicial enquiry all the eight police officials have been arrested u/s 302 read with section 156 Police Order 2002 and their physical remand has been secured till 5/10/06 for interrogation.
The Addl. AG submitted that the case may be disposed of since Sharifan Bibi, mother of deceased Nazir Ahmad has made a compromise with the police officials, who have paid her Rs 1 million as compensation; however, Sharifan Bibi contradicted this statement and said: "We are poor people, we cannot fight with the police."
The bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry directed the district and sessions judge, Sheikhpura, to record a statement of Sharifan Bibi independently to ascertain whether this compromise was not being made under duress.