Multan, Pakistan — Pakistan’s government said Thursday that police had orchestrated the killing of a doctor who was in custody after he was accused of blasphemy.
The statement marks the first time the government has accused security forces of what the doctor’s family and rights groups have said amounted to an extrajudicial killing carried out by police.
Hassan’s statement backed up Nawaz’s family allegations earlier this week.
Accusations of blasphemy, sometimes even just rumors, can spark riots and mob rampages in Pakistan.
Nawaz’s killing was the second case of an extrajudicial killing by police this month in Pakistan.
Persons:
Shah Nawaz, Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, Ziaul Hassan, Nawaz, Hassan, Islam, Nawaz’s, “, …, ”, Mohammad Saleh, Saleh, Rehmat, Syed Khan, Khan, Mohammad Khurram
Organizations:
Minister, Associated Press
Locations:
Multan, Pakistan, Sindh, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot, Karachi, Quetta