Family of Shahnawaz Kunbhar demands judicial inquiry into his death
Family of Shahnawaz Kunbhar Demands Justice After Custodial Death in Pakistan
In Umerkot, Pakistan, the family of Shahnawaz Kunbhar, who died in police custody on September 19, is calling for a transparent judicial inquiry into his death. This plea follows violent reactions from religious groups and the burning of his body by extremists. A delegation of civil society activists, led by the Sindhi Association of North America, visited the family in Janhero village to support their demand.
Ibrahim Kunbhar, speaking for the family, expressed distrust in the police investigation and urged for an inquiry under a Sindh High Court judge. He alleged that CCTV footage of Kunbhar's arrest and related events had been destroyed to shield those involved.
The Sindh government had proposed a judicial inquiry on October 16, but no progress has been made. Kunbhar was accused of sharing blasphemous posts on social media, leading to his death in a police encounter in Mirpurkhas. After the encounter, his body was handed to the family, but a mob attacked and set it on fire.
On September 26, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar revealed that the police had staged the encounter. Religious leaders across Pakistan are demanding a thorough investigation into the blasphemy incident. The case has sparked protests, highlighting concerns about blasphemy laws being misused against ethnic minorities in Pakistan.
Doubts Revealed
Custodial Death
A custodial death is when someone dies while they are in the custody of the police or other authorities. It means the person was under the control of the police when they died.
Judicial Inquiry
A judicial inquiry is an investigation conducted by a judge or a legal authority to find out the truth about a serious incident, like a death in custody. It helps to ensure that justice is served by looking into all the details of the case.
Civil Society Activists
Civil society activists are people who work to bring about social change and justice. They often support causes like human rights and help families who are seeking justice, like in the case of Shahnawaz Kunbhar.
Blasphemy Laws
Blasphemy laws are rules that make it illegal to say or do something that is disrespectful to religious beliefs. In some countries, these laws can be misused to target certain groups or individuals.
Ethnic Minorities
Ethnic minorities are groups of people who have different cultural, religious, or racial backgrounds from the majority population in a country. They can sometimes face discrimination or unfair treatment.
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