SAA event in Sindh, Mirpur Khas area, Pakistan on Thu 19th September 2024

A Doctor, identified as Shah Nawaz Kunhbar, was shot dead by Police in an alleged extra-judicial killing in Mirpur Khas District of Sindh on September 19, a day after he was booked on allegations of blasphemy, reports Dawn. On September 18, the Doctor was booked by Umerkot Police under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly posting ‘blasphemous content’ on Facebook following protests by religious parties. Reportedly, the Doctor had fled to Karachi, but was arrested by Umerkot Police and brought to Mirpur Khas, where he was allegedly killed by Sindhri town Police in an ‘encounter’. Police, however, denied arresting the man from Karachi. Police claimed the incident occurred during snap-checking near the Kanta stop in Sindhri. Sindhri Station House Officer (SHO) Niaz Khoso, however, confirmed the killing of the suspect, saying the doctor along with ‘accomplices’ opened fire at Police. In retaliatory action, the suspect was shot dead whereas his alleged accomplice managed to escape, he claimed. After the ‘encounter’, the body was handed over to the family, who brought it to Janhero — the native village of the Doctor — for burns burial. However, they had to escape after a mob descended on them to snatch the body and burn it. According to his family and locals, Dr Shah Nawaz was struggling with a mental disorder and had been under treatment for four years. A day earlier, Dr Shah Nawaz had issued a video statement on his social media, saying that his account had been hacked and he could not even imagine sharing blasphemous content.