KARACHI: A local court in Karachi on Monday remanded two police officials in custody after they were accused of involvement in the death of a detainee, Irfan Baloch.
According to the investigation officer, the court has granted a two-day physical remand of ASI Abid Shah and ASI Asif Ali, handing them over to the police for further interrogation.
The officer informed the court that Irfan Baloch and several others had been arrested from Lilli Bridge following a tip-off from a confidential informant. During custody, ASI Abid Shah and ASI Sarfraz interrogated the suspect.
The investigation officer said that Irfan Baloch’s condition suddenly deteriorated, and he lost consciousness. The officers allegedly acted negligently, taking him to the hospital without informing their superiors.
He added that initial findings suggest that the registration of the case appears suspicious, raising doubts about the circumstances surrounding the incident. While Irfan Baloch has died, three other detainees were released, which the investigation officer described as “highly questionable.”
The officer further informed the court that four more police personnel involved in the case are still absconding, and efforts are underway to arrest them.
A case of has been registered against the accused officials at the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police station, the investigation officer confirmed.
Earlier, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar had admitted that the youth, Irfan Baloch, died while in police custody and has ordered a departmental inquiry.
Irfan Baloch, a resident of Bahawalpur, was visiting Karachi for leisure when he was detained by police and later ‘subjected to torture-to -death.’
According to details, the minister took serious notice of the ‘custodial’ death of Irfan, who was reportedly subjected to torture by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), and has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Lanjar acknowledged that the young man Irfan Baloch died in police custody but assured that a transparent investigation would be conducted. He instructed the Sindh home secretary to complete the inquiry within 15 days.
“The matter will be thoroughly investigated, and the forensic report is still pending,” he said, adding that any official found involved will face strict punishment.
“No one will be allowed to evade accountability, and modern forensic techniques will be used to bring the case to its logical conclusion.”
The home minister further revealed that the deceased, Irfan Baloch, had been recording videos, which may have caused a misunderstanding.
“It needs to be determined whether the locations he was filming were of a sensitive nature or not,” he added.
Lanjar assured that impartial investigations have been ordered, directing both the police and relevant agencies to uncover the true facts behind the incident.
