Lanjar seeks judicial inquiry into Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar’s murder

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has written to the high court registrar requesting a judicial inquiry into Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar’s murder. Dr Kunbhar was killed in an alleged police encounter in Mirpurkhas on September 18. His body was desecrated, and a case was filed in Umerkot.

Following the committee’s report, a case was registered on the complaint of Dr Kunbhar’s heirs, said Lanjar, and stressed the necessity of conducting a judicial inquiry to ascertain the truth.

The letter reads that Dr Kunbhar, against whom FIR No. 42/2024 was lodged under the Pakistan Penal Code’s (PPC) Section 295-C at the Umerkot Taluka police station on September 17, was allegedly killed in a police encounter on September 18 in the jurisdiction of the Sindhri police station, District Mirpurkhas.

Consequently, FIR No. 45/2024 was registered under the PPC’s sections 324 and 353, followed by FIR No. 46/2024 under Section 23-1(A) of the Sindh Arms Act at the Sindhri police station.

For the desecration of Dr Kunbhar’s body, FIR No. 44/2024 was registered under the PPC’s sections 341, 296, 297, 114, 336-B, 147, 148 and 149, read with the Anti-Terrorism Act’s (ATA) sections 6 and 7, and the Torture & Custodial Death (Prevention & Punishment) Act’s (TCD) sections 8 and 9 at the Umerkot Taluka police station.

The committee formed by the Sindh police chief concluded that the police encounter was fake, following which Dr Kunbhar’s heirs lodged FIR No. 47/2024 under the PPC’s sections 302, 364, 147, 148, 149 and 34, read with the ATA’s sections 6 and 7, and the TCD’s sections 8 and 9 on September 27 at the Sindhri police station.

Lanjar said that in the light of these, it has become imperative to conduct a judicial inquiry into the incident to ascertain the facts and hold the delinquent police officials and individuals accountable in the interest of justice. The minister requested that a judicial inquiry be ordered to be conducted by a serving judge of the high court.

BISP centres’ security

Lanjar held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss enhancing facilities for individuals registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid emphasised the need for security at the BISP centres and camps.

Lanjar directed the Special Branch chief to ensure security measures. He also directed the district police chiefs to guarantee foolproof security at all the BISP centres and camps. He also called for a crackdown on agents deceiving the public at these centres.