Protesters block trains, roads against ‘police encounter death’ in Pak’s Gojra

File Photo

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Scores of the relatives of a man, allegedly killed in an encounter with the Gojra police, blocked trains by setting ablaze used tyres and by parking tractor-trolleys along with the body at the level crossing at Gojra, the city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, on Sunday for several hours.

Deceased’s father Abdul Rashid and nephew Bilawal Khokhar told reporters that Kashif Khokhar, of Gojra Chak 366 JB, was doing a job at Faisalabad. He was arrested by Gojra Sadar SHO Abdul Ghaffar at his Faisalabad house two days ago and was kept at an unidentified place. Later, the police killed him in a fake encounter at Gojra.

He added that they came to know about the killing after spotting the photo of the body posted on social media. The family retrieved the body from the Gojra THQ hospital. The family demanded Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and the inspector general hold an impartial inquiry into the killing, alleging Kashif was murdered at the behest of their opponents.

Trains and road vehicles to Samundri, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Faisalabad remained blocked for hours. Police officers held talks with the protesters and assured them that an impartial probe would be done into the death but the family refused to end the protest. Later, PML-N MNA Khalid Javed Warraich mediated between the police and protesters and on his assurance that a case will be registered against alleged killers, the protesters ended the road blockade.

Trains were stopped at different railway stations.

The police, however, said Kashif was killed by the bullets of his own accomplices when they attempted to get him free from the custody of villagers who had overpowered him during a dacoity. He said the deceased and his accomplice were looting passengers on Gojra-Mochiwala Road and the deceased was a declared proclaimed offender in a highway robbery-cum-rape case as he was wanted by Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh police in different robberies. (Dawn)