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Mirpurkhas Court Grants Bail to 9 Suspects in Dr. Shahnawaz Murder Case
The Mirpurkhas Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to 9 suspects in the murder case of blasphemy accused Dr. Shahnawaz. This decision coincides with the plan to exhume his body for a post-mortem examination.
ND
by News Desk
2024-10-15
Mirpurkhas Court Grants Bail to 9 Suspects in Dr. Shahnawaz Murder Case

The Mirpurkhas Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to nine suspects implicated in the murder case of Dr. Shahnawaz, who was accused of blasphemy. The suspects, all hailing from Umarkot, appeared before the court and had their bail applications accepted.

 

The individuals released include Bilal, Saddam, Shakeel, Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Sahil, Altaf Hussain, Bilawal, Muhammad Ayan, and Wahaj, who were all named in connection with the rioting incidents surrounding Dr. Shahnawaz's death.

 

Exhumation for Post-Mortem Examination

The recent developments follow the decision to exhume Dr. Shahnawaz's body for a post-mortem examination, as announced by Civil Judge Judicial Magistrate Amir Rajput. This move comes in the wake of allegations surrounding the circumstances of Dr. Shahnawaz’s death, which occurred on September 20, 2024, during a police encounter in Umarkot.

 

The medical board overseeing the post-mortem examination includes the Faculty Member of LUMS University Jamshoro and the Head of the Department of Pathology. Reports indicate that Umarkot police restricted media access to the burial site and surrounding areas during the exhumation process.

 

Allegations of Extrajudicial Killing

Dr. Shahnawaz was killed under contentious circumstances, with local police claiming that he was shot during an alleged encounter. According to Umarkot police chief Niaz Khoso, officers attempted to stop two individuals on a motorcycle, leading to an exchange of gunfire, during which Dr. Shahnawaz was killed. The police later identified him as a suspect in a blasphemy case, which he had reportedly been hiding from prior to his death.

 

Human rights organizations condemned the incident, labeling it as yet another example of extrajudicial killings in the region. Videos shared on social media depicted local clerics praising the police for their actions, showering them with rose petals in celebration of Dr. Shahnawaz’s killing.

 

Calls for Accountability

The Sindh government has yet to provide a detailed explanation regarding the circumstances of Dr. Shahnawaz's death. Following public outrage, an investigation was announced, but the lack of clarity surrounding the events has raised significant concerns among human rights advocates.

 

As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of this case are far-reaching, touching upon issues of judicial accountability, extrajudicial violence, and the treatment of blasphemy allegations in Pakistan.
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