Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the arbitrary arrest, illegal detention, and torture of two young men by the Jacobabad District Police, Sindh. One of them is a young schoolteacher and, in his case, the Magistrate Court has refused to take action against the police officials despite evidences of torture. The Jacobabad Police, notorious for illegal arrest, extortion, and killing of detainees in fake encounters put Choona (lime mortar) in the mouth and nose of the victim to force him to pay a bribe of Pak Rupees 250,000.
In the other case, the Jacobabad Police illegally arrested another jobless young person and half fried him when he could not arrange the bribe amount by shooting his knee inside the police station and portraying this event later as an encounter. The man has been disabled for life. The Magistrate Court has again also refused to take action against the police; local citizens say the District Police Officer (DPO) is influential; he declares every such encounter as action against terrorists, and influences the Judiciary through his political connections.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to information received, Mohammad Suleman Shah 32, son of Abdul Majeed Shan is a primary school teacher and resident of Village Syed Ghulam Shah, located at a distance of 24 kilometers from Jacobabad, Sindh.
On 11 August 2015, Suleman left his village at around 2:30 p.m. for Jacobabad; he was carrying Rupees 40 thousands to purchase fertilizer. Suleman was expected to stay at his relative’s house in Jacobabad. When he failed to show up till late in the night, the family got suspicious. They searched in vain for two days.
A relative told the family that he had seen Suleman on the Press Club Road on the evening of August 11 at around 8 p.m. being taken away by Station House Officer (SHO) Syed Jamani of the City Police Station Jacobabad. The relative also said that the SHO, along with two other officials in civilian clothes had stopped Suleman, following which he had gone missing. When his relatives inquired from the City Police Station, they were told that Suleman was not in their custody. Suleman’s location was however tracked by the family with the help of mobile operator: Jacobabad.
Two days after his disappearance, Suleman’s father received a call from Constable Arbab Jatoi, who called using Suleman’s cellphone. The constable demanded Rupees 2.5 Lacs for the release of Suleman. After consultation with family members, Suleman’s father refused to pay the ransom amount.
The family approached Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Jacobabad, Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Jakhrani, on August 13 for his help in the release of Suleman. Upon Jakhrani’s intervention, the District Police Officer (DPO) Jacobabad, Zafar Iqbal Malik divulged that Suleman was wanted for being the head of a notorious gang and cannot be released.
On August 15, the family moved an application in the Sessions Court, upon which the Court ordered a raid at the Jacobabad Police Station. The raid commissioner duly raided the concerned police station, but failed to locate Suleman; no FIR was registered at the police station. The raid commissioner also raided a quarter located within the police station and found a wristwatch, motorcycle, Sindhi traditional cap, and shoes belonging to Suleman.
Having prior information of the raid, the police had managed to relocate Suleman. When the Sessions Court summoned SHO City Police Station Syed Jamani on August 18, he didn’t appear before the Court to explain the matter. Upon being asked for a written submission, the SHO claimed that Suleman is not in their custody.
On August 24, Suleman was presented before a judicial magistrate in Jacobabad; The date of arrest is shown to be on August 23, and the alleged crimes under which the arrest was made is shown as the possession of illegal arms (under FIR number 144/2015) and obstructing a police officer in the discharge of his duty (under FIR number 73/2015).
One FIR is registered at the Section Police Station of Thal, which is located 35 kilometers from Jacobabad, and the other is registered at the City Police Station, Jacobabad. In addition, another FIR (number 74/2015) has been registered at the city police station for an alleged police encounter, where another man named Naveed Ahmed Dangar is also implicated. Dangar was shot in his leg, colloquially called “half fried” by the police. Suleman has been falsely charged in this case along with Dangar, though he has never seen Dangar and has no connection with him.
Suleman’s brother Abdur Razzaq, who saw his brother in court, has reported that his brother had bruises and torture marks on his face, which was visibly swollen, and he complained of chest pain due to constant kicking by the police officers. Suleman also complained of bloodied sputum, he told his brother that the police officers put choona (mortar) in his nose and mouth. Razzak also reports that his brother appeared disillusioned and disoriented due to the police torture.
When Razzaq complained of torture and asked the judicial magistrate to order medical examination the magistrate however refused to oblige, stating that he is not authorized to make such orders, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of Thal Police Station. According to Razzaq, the judicial magistrate asked to be paid to order to allow for a medical checkup. As the Thal Judicial magistrate was on leave Suleman was presented before the Judicial Magistrate Jacobabad, who put Suleman under judicial remand till 6th September.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Jacobabad police officers are notorious for extortion and bribery, targeting innocent citizens and implicating them in frivolous cases. DPO Zafar Iqbal Malik, DSP Rana Sana ullah, and SHO Syed Jamani allegedly protect and abet criminals and are also involved in the honor killing case of Tahira Khosso. These officers are notorious for abetting and protecting gangsters and providing them safe heaven within their jurisdiction.
Naved Ahmed Dangar was shot and maimed for life by the Head Constable of City Police Station Jacobabad. Naved has accused the police officer of torture and extortion in a video that went viral on social media. The video can be viewed here.
The rampant corruption in Sindh Police is an open secret. While hearing an application on 1 August 2015 regarding the withholding of funds meant for the police’s investigation wing the Supreme Court (SC) observed that the level of corruption in the Sindh police had increased threefold. An internal inquiry conducted by the Sindh police department has identified more than 50 SHOs involved in cases of crime. Nearly a dozen of them have links with political parties and members of the Lyari-based gangs and have also been accused of sheltering criminals affiliated with political parties and being involved in crimes such as targeted killing, extortion, robbery, and land grabbing.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities calling to conduct inquiry in the cases of ‘half fry and full fry acts of Jacobabad Police, Sindh, for holding fake encounters, torture in custody, demanding extortion and holding extra judicial killings. Please urge them to prosecute the district police officer of the District Jacobabad and other police officials, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police and SHO of the City Police Station Jacobabad. The government must initiate an enquiry in the cases of torture and disabling two young men during their illegal custody. The victims must be paid compensation enabling them to survive for their whole life. And, the apex court must investigate the trend of rising extortion and corruption cases of the Jacobabad police officers and should award exemplary punishment to those found guilty of indulging in corruption and extortion.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
PAKISTAN: Jacobabad police disable two young men during illegal detention
Name of victim:
1. Mohammad Suleman Shah, 32, son of Abdul Majeed Shan, resident of Village Syed Ghulam Shah Jacobabad, Sindh
2.Mr. Naveed Ahmed, resident of Garhi Khero, Jacobabad, City, Jacobabad District, Sindh
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Constable Arbab Jatoi of City Police Station, Jacaobabad
2. Sub Inspector Syed Jamani, Station House Officer, City Police Station, Jacobabad, Sindh
3. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rana Sana ullah, Jacobabad, Sindh
4. District Police Officer, Zafar Iqbal Malik
Date of incident: 12 August 2015
Place of incident: City Police Station, District Jacobabad, Sindh
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the arbitrary arrest, illegal detention, and torture of two young men by the Jacobabad district police, Sindh. One of them is a young schoolteacher and, in his case, the Magistrate Court has refused to take action against the police officials despite evidence of torture. The Jacobabad Police, notorious for illegal arrest, extortion, and killing of detainees in fake encounters put Choona (lime mortar) in the mouth and nose of the victim to force him to pay a bribe of Pak Rupees 250,000.
It is very shocking for me that in the other case, the Jacobabad Police illegally arrested another jobless young person and half fried him when he could not arrange the bribe amount by shooting his knee inside the police station and portraying this event later as an encounter. The man has been disabled for life. The Magistrate Court has again also refused to take action against the police; local citizens say the District Police Officer (DPO) is influential; he declares every such encounter as action against terrorists, and influences the Judiciary through his political connections.
According to information received, Mohammad Suleman Shah 32, son of Abdul Majeed Shan is a primary school teacher and resident of Village Syed Ghulam Shah, located at a distance of 24 kilometers from Jacobabad, Sindh.
On 11 August 2015, Suleman left his village at around 2:30 p.m. for Jacobabad; he was carrying Rupees 40 thousands to purchase fertilizer. Suleman was expected to stay at his relative’s house in Jacobabad. When he failed to show up till late in the night, the family got suspicious. They searched in vain for two days.
A relative told the family that he had seen Suleman on the Press Club Road on the evening of August 11 at around 8 p.m. being taken away by Station House Officer (SHO) Syed Jamani of the City Police Station Jacobabad. The relative also said that the SHO, along with two other officials in civilian clothes had stopped Suleman, following which he had gone missing. When his relatives inquired from the City Police Station, they were told that Suleman was not in their custody. Suleman’s location was however tracked by the family with the help of mobile operator: Jacobabad.
Two days after his disappearance, Suleman’s father received a call from Constable Arbab Jatoi, who called using Suleman’s cellphone. The constable demanded Rupees 2.5 Lacs for the release of Suleman. After consultation with family members, Suleman’s father refused to pay the ransom amount.
The family approached Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Jacobabad, Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Jakhrani, on August 13 for his help in the release of Suleman. Upon Jakhrani’s intervention, the District Police Officer (DPO) Jacobabad, Zafar Iqbal Malik divulged that Suleman was wanted for being the head of a notorious gang and cannot be released.
On August 15, the family moved an application in the Sessions Court, upon which the Court ordered a raid at the Jacobabad Police Station. The raid commissioner duly raided the concerned police station, but failed to locate Suleman; no FIR was registered at the police station. The raid commissioner also raided a quarter located within the police station and found a wristwatch, motorcycle, Sindhi traditional cap, and shoes belonging to Suleman.
Having prior information of the raid, the police had managed to relocate Suleman. When the Sessions Court summoned SHO City Police Station Syed Jamani on August 18, he didn’t appear before the Court to explain the matter. Upon being asked for a written submission, the SHO claimed that Suleman is not in their custody.
On August 24, Suleman was presented before a judicial magistrate in Jacobabad; The date of arrest is shown to be on August 23, and the alleged crimes under which the arrest was made is shown as the possession of illegal arms (under FIR number 144/2015) and obstructing a police officer in the discharge of his duty (under FIR number 73/2015).
One FIR is registered at the Section Police Station of Thal, which is located 35 kilometers from Jacobabad, and the other is registered at the City Police Station, Jacobabad. In addition, another FIR (number 74/2015) has been registered at the city police station for an alleged police encounter, where another man named Naveed Ahmed Dangar is also implicated. Dangar was shot in his leg, colloquially called “half fried” by the police. Suleman has been falsely charged in this case along with Dangar, though he has never seen Dangar and has no connection with him.
Suleman’s brother Abdur Razzaq, who saw his brother in court, has reported that his brother had bruises and torture marks on his face, which was visibly swollen, and he complained of chest pain due to constant kicking by the police officers. Suleman also complained of bloodied sputum, he told his brother that the police officers put choona (mortar) in his nose and mouth. Razzak also reports that his brother appeared disillusioned and disoriented due to the police torture.
When Razzaq complained of torture and asked the judicial magistrate to order medical examination the magistrate however refused to oblige, stating that he is not authorized to make such orders, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of Thal Police Station. According to Razzaq, the judicial magistrate asked to be paid to order to allow for a medical checkup. As the Thal Judicial magistrate was on leave Suleman was presented before the Judicial Magistrate Jacobabad, who put Suleman under judicial remand till 6th September.
I therefore urge you to conduct inquiry in the cases of ‘half fry and full fry acts of Jacobabad Police, Sindh, for holding fake encounters, torture in custody, demanding extortion and holding extra judicial killings. I also demand to prosecute the district police officer of the District Jacobabad and other police officials, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police and SHO of the City Police Station Jacobabad. The government must initiate an enquiry in the cases of torture and disabling two young men during their illegal custody. The victims must be paid compensation enabling them to survive for their whole life. And, the apex court must investigate the trend of rising extortion and corruption cases of the Jacobabad police officers and should award exemplary punishment to those found guilty of indulging in corruption and extortion.
Yours sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2.Mr. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
The Government of Sindh Province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
3. Mr. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Minister
Ministry of Interior of Pakistan
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com, ministry.interior@gmail.com
4.Mr. Pervez Rashid
Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights of Pakistan
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: contact@molaw.gov.pk
5. Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
7. Major General Bilal Akbar
Director General Pakistan Ranjers (Sindh)
Jinnah Courts, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi, Sindh
PAKISTAN
Tel: Helpline No: 1101, +92-21-99261056 (Gulshan-e-Iqbal)
Tel: +92 21 9205285-87 (Head Quarter)
FAX: +92 21 99205284
Email: help@pakistanranjerssindh.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
