A police constable shot dead a blasphemy suspect inside the lockup of the Cantt Police Station in Quetta on Thursday. The suspect, Abdul Ali alias Lala, was arrested the previous day in Kharotabad, Quetta, on charges of blasphemy. His arrest followed the circulation of a viral video allegedly showing him making objectionable remarks about Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (the finality of prophethood) and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Following his arrest, a large mob of around 200 people, including supporters of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), gathered outside the Kharotabad Police Station, demanding the suspect’s custody. The protest escalated to violence, with the mob pelting the police station with stones and even launching grenade attacks. Due to the unrest, police officials moved Abdul Ali to the Cantt Police Station for his safety.
Constable Acts on His Own, Investigation Underway
The situation took a tragic turn when a police constable, Saad Khan Sarhadi, who was previously stationed at the Kharotabad Police Station, arrived at the Cantt Police Station and opened fire on Abdul Ali inside the lockup, using his personal pistol. The Inspector General of Police in Balochistan, Moazzam Jah Ansari, confirmed that the constable acted independently. Abdul Ali was killed on the spot, sustaining multiple bullet wounds.
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The constable was immediately arrested, and a murder case was filed against him. Senior police official Muhammad Baloch corroborated these details. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, which is the first of its kind in Quetta where a serving police officer has killed a suspect facing blasphemy charges while in custody.
Blasphemy Laws Under Scrutiny
Blasphemy is a highly sensitive and controversial issue in Pakistan, a conservative, Muslim-majority country. Even unproven allegations of insulting Islam or the Prophet Mohammed can provoke deadly reactions from vigilantes. Rights groups often criticize these laws, arguing that they are used to settle personal scores and disproportionately target minorities.
The incident in Quetta has reignited the debate around Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Human rights activists point to previous cases, such as the 2011 assassination of the Punjab governor by his bodyguard after he called for reforms to these strict laws. The incident underscores the volatile nature of blasphemy charges in Pakistan, where justice is often administered outside the courts, raising questions about the rule of law and the need for reform.
The killing of Abdul Ali has sparked concern about the misuse of blasphemy laws and the growing trend of extrajudicial actions. Many observers are calling for urgent reforms to ensure that justice is upheld within the framework of the law. The incident is a reminder of the dangerous consequences of blasphemy allegations and the need for a more balanced and fair judicial process to prevent such violent outcomes in the future.