Family asks Punjab CM for help over murder case probe 'manipulation'

LONDON: The family of an overseas Pakistani killed in a land dispute has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to take a personal interest in the matter as the police officers investigating the case have been accused of colluding with those allegedly involved in the murder.

Khurram Shabir, whose family reside in London and Paris, was fatally shot on August 28, 2023, in the presence of Raja Muhammad Raheel, his brother Muhammad Adnan, nephew Usama Nisar, and another nephew Khurram Shabbir on their ancestral land near Jinnah Colony, Fatehpur, Sarai Alamgir.

The overseas family has alleged that the accused, armed with a firearm, attacked them and killed Shabbir. A demonstration was held by the family in Paris, attended by around 100 Pakistanis, to seek the attention of the Punjab government in the case.

In a complaint filed with the Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission, the family elder Raja Muhammad Raheel and the deceased’s mother Azra Shabbir have said that under FIR No. 267/23 (Sections: 302/324/109/440 PPC), following the incident, the accused was arrested and the local police seized his weapon and vehicle.

He was declared guilty under due process, sent to judicial custody and a challan was submitted to the court accordingly.

The complaint said: “Subsequent to the initial investigation, the case was re-investigated by the DIG Gujrat, which upheld the accused's culpability. Further, the case was referred to RIB Gujranwala, where the findings similarly indicted the accused.

Currently, the case is under trial, with the testimony of seven witnesses already recorded. However, the accused filed an application for a change of investigation with the IG Punjab, Lahore, which led to the appointment of two new inquiry officers who rather than conducting an impartial investigation, colluded with the accused and began manipulating the facts."

One of the officers in the case, according to the complaint, instead of considering the findings from the previous investigations, ignored key evidence and witness testimonies.

Raheel said in the complaint: “The officers failed to record statements from me, the witnesses, and respected community members. On multiple occasions, I, along with the witnesses and local notables, approached the officers for the investigation but were met with intimidation and coercion. Instead of interrogating the accused, one of the officers fabricated baseless narratives and declared the murder accused as innocent, contrary to the facts.”

He complains that the accused, despite failing to prove his innocence, was unjustly exonerated by the inquiry officers and “implicated me and the witnesses as accused in the case, which is a grave miscarriage of justice”.

He appeals to the Punjab CM: “I humbly request an impartial investigation into the matter. The current investigation is grossly flawed and does not align with the facts of the case. Being a law-abiding and peace-loving citizen, I have faced extreme injustice and victimisation. I seek immediate action against these officers and appeal for justice to be served.”

Azra said: “Khurram Shabbir was my only son. He was the father of four young children. His killing had devastated all of us. We need justice. We request the Punjab CM to look into our case on merit.”

Vice Chairman Overseas Commissioners Punjab Amjad Malik confirmed that his office has received the complaint and he has written to the district police for a report.