July 21, 2020
By Asim Ahmed Khan
QUETTA
The investigation into the extrajudicial killing of Ahsanullah of district Kharan, Balochistan, seems to have hit a dead end as no suspect has yet been brought forward. Ahsanullah had allegedly succumbed to police torture while he was in custody. Moreover, the government has yet to constitute an investigative committee into the youth’s custodial murder.
The spokesperson for the Balochistan government, Liaqat Shahwani assured the slain youth’s family and friends that those found responsible for Ahsanullah’s demise will face the full wrath of justice.
It had taken two days of continuous protests, organized by Ahsanullah’s family and civil society activists, to prompt official action on his custodial torture and subsequent death, and direct authorities to have the deceased youth’s body shifted to Quetta for a post-mortem examination. Kharan police maintain that Ahsanullah had committed suicide while in remand.
Following the autopsy report which revealed that Ahsanullah’s body bore wounds and had likely died due to asphyxiation, the Kharan station house officer (SHO), investigating officer and six other police personnel were nominated in the extrajudicial murder of the deceased youth. Meanwhile, an investigative committee has been constituted under the supervision of the area deputy superintendent of police (DSP).