Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar has ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of an 18-year-old boy, Muhammad Irfan, who died in police custody in Karachi. The incident has sparked anger among citizens and raised serious questions about police conduct.
Irfan was arrested by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) along with three of his friends on October 22. Within minutes of being taken to the SIU/CIA Centre in Saddar, his health reportedly worsened. He was rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police claimed that Irfan died of a heart attack. However, his family believes he was tortured to death. A preliminary post-mortem report, conducted in the presence of a judicial magistrate, found multiple injury marks on his body. The findings have deepened public outrage and demands for accountability.
In a statement, the Home Department said that Minister Lanjar directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to begin the process of a judicial inquiry immediately. He also instructed officials to ensure a forensic investigation and bring all those responsible to justice. “I feel sorry that the child has died in police custody,” Lanjar said, expressing regret over the tragedy.
The minister added that the case must reach a “logical conclusion” through modern investigative methods. Authorities have also promised that no officer involved will be spared if found guilty.
The death triggered protests on Saturday as relatives and residents gathered outside an Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth, carrying Irfan’s coffin and blocking the main road. The protest ended after senior police officials assured the family that justice would be served. Later that night, Irfan’s body was taken to his hometown, Bait Ahmed in Bahawalpur, where thousands attended his funeral.
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Saddar Police Station under sections related to manslaughter and common intention. Seven SIU officers were named in the report, and two have already been arrested. Earlier, seven policemen were suspended as part of the ongoing investigation.
Officials say the registration of the original case against Irfan appears “dubious,” adding further suspicion to the matter. Senior officers have promised to include Section 302 (murder) in the FIR if the final medical report confirms torture.
Human rights activists have called for strict action and long-term reforms to prevent future custodial abuses. The inquiry, now under judicial supervision, is expected to determine the full circumstances of Irfan’s death.Dawn
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