Torture Allegations Surrounding Blasphemy Case Death in Pakistan Fuel Investigation Demands

The autopsy of Shahnawaz Kunbhar reveals severe torture prior to his staged encounter killing in Mirpurkhas. His family accuses the initial post-mortem team of concealing evidence. A medical board confirms gunshot wounds but indicates significant trauma and fractured ribs. Calls for a detailed inquiry intensify amidst charges of legal failures.

The recent autopsy findings of Shahnawaz Kunbhar, a doctor killed in a notorious 'staged encounter' in Mirpurkhas, reveal severe torture prior to his death, according to Dawn. The report, a result of exhumation supervised by a medical board on October 16, has ignited demands for a comprehensive investigation into the suspicious circumstances.

Preliminary post-mortem reports highlight multiple injuries, including fractured bones. The medical board stated, 'Gunshot wounds to the chest suffice as the cause of death under normal conditions,' implicating further investigation. Findings revealed Kunbhar's lower rib fractures due to blunt force trauma, with details noted by a team of medical experts and a pathologist.

Kunbhar's family accuses the District Headquarters Hospital in Mirpurkhas of obscuring torture evidence after the initial autopsy and demands interrogation under Pakistani Penal Code's Section 201. They allege his murder involved torture at a religious figure's residence and an attempt to destroy evidence via burning. The Sindh Human Rights Commission highlights legal breaches and negligence by law enforcement in this extrajudicial killing, noting the ongoing exploitation of blasphemy laws in Pakistan that often result in violence and death, especially against minorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)