Family seeks help from Punjab CM over ‘tampering’ with murder investigation

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 police officers investigating the case are accused of to work with those suspected of being involved in the murder.

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

The family abroad has alleged that the accused, armed with a gun, attacked them and killed Shabbir. The family held a demonstration in Paris attended by around 100 Pakistanis to draw the Punjab government’s attention to the case.

In a complaint filed with the Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission, family elder Raja Muhammad Raheel and mother of the deceased Azra Shabbir have stated that following the incident as per FIR No. 267/23 (Sections: 302/324/109/440 PPC) The defendant was arrested and local police confiscated his weapon and vehicle.

He was found guilty following due process, remanded in custody and accordingly a statement of claim was submitted to the court.

The complaint states, “After the initial investigation, the case was re-investigated by DIG Gujrat, who confirmed the guilt of the accused. Furthermore, the case was referred to RIB Gujranwala where the findings also indicted the accused.

The case is currently being heard and the statements of seven witnesses have already been recorded. “The accused, however, submitted an application to the IG Punjab, Lahore for modification of the investigation, which resulted in the appointment of two new investigators who, instead of conducting an impartial investigation, collaborated with the accused and started manipulating the facts.”

One of the officers in the case ignored key evidence and witness statements instead of considering the results of the previous investigation, according to the complaint.

Raheel said in the complaint, “The officers failed to take statements from me, the witnesses and respected community members. On several occasions, I, together with the witnesses and local figures, approached the officials to initiate the investigation, but was met with intimidation and coercion. Instead of interrogating the defendant, one of the officers fabricated baseless narratives and declared the defendant innocent contrary to the facts.”

He complains that although the defendant could not prove his innocence, he was wrongly exonerated by the investigating officers and “implicated me and the witnesses as defendants in the case, which constitutes a serious miscarriage of justice.”

He appealed to the Punjab CM: “I humbly demand an impartial inquiry into the matter. The current investigation is grossly flawed and does not reflect the facts of the case. As a law-abiding and peace-loving citizen, I have faced extreme injustice and harassment. I request immediate action against these officials and appeal for justice.”

Azra said, “Khurram Shabbir was my only son. He was the father of four small children. His murder devastated us all. We need justice. We request the Punjab CM to examine our case objectively.”

Deputy Chairman Overseas Commissioner Punjab Amjad Malik confirmed that his office had received the complaint and he had written to the district police to lodge a complaint.