News Desk
Quetta, 12 September 2024:
A police officer in Quetta has been arrested for allegedly killing a man in custody who was accused of blasphemy, officials confirmed on Thursday.
According to Dawn News, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Baloch stated that the officer, who gained access to the police station by pretending to be a relative of the suspect, opened fire on the man held on blasphemy charges. The suspect had been moved to a more secure facility after an enraged mob demanded he be handed over to them.
Protests led by religious hardliner groups erupted following the incident, with demonstrators blocking the western bypass in Quetta by burning tires. They later hurled a grenade at the Kharotabad police station, though no casualties were reported, Dawn News report.
The suspect had been accused of making Blasphemous during a phone conversation, which went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage.
Police confirmed that an FIR had been registered against the man under Sections 295C and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and investigations were underway.
The Dawn News report, also mentioned a related development where, JUI-P Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan expressed solidarity with the police officer accused of the shooting during a Senate session, pledging to cover his legal expenses.
The senator criticized the legal system, stating that it failed to deliver swift justice in blasphemy cases. He also acknowledged the act was wrong according to both Sharia and law.
The senator also called for expedited trials in blasphemy cases, arguing that those accused should face punishment within hours, rather than undergoing lengthy trials.
(Source: Dawn News)