Autopsy reveals signs of torture on the body of Dr. Umerkot Shahnawaz – Pakistan

DIED: The body of Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar, arrested in a blasphemy case and killed in a staged encounter in Mirpurkhas, bore signs of severe torture, a post-mortem report has said.

On October 16, Dr Kunbhar’s body was exhumed under the supervision of a medical board and the initial autopsy report revealed multiple injuries, including broken bones.

According to the preliminary report: “The members of the Special Medical Board are unanimous in the opinion that the gunshot wounds to the chest of the deceased are sufficient to cause death in the normal natural course.

“Fracture of the four lower ribs indicates the application of blunt force to the posterior chest of deceased Dr. Shahnawaz Kunbhar,” said the report signed by Dr. Wasim Khan, Dr. Tahir Qureshi, Prof. Dr. Waheed Nahyun, Dr. Abdul Samad Memon and pathologist Dr. Raheel Khan. .

The family suspects that he was tortured to death and his body was set on fire to hide evidence; calls for an investigation into the doctors who performed the first autopsy

The findings were based on the results of a medical examination and x-ray, which showed that Dr Kunbhar had four broken ribs.

Dr Kunbhar’s family has called for a thorough investigation into the doctors who conducted the first autopsy at Mirpurkhas District Hospital.

They accused the hospital of concealing evidence of torture and demanded that the doctors be questioned under Section 201 of the Pakistan Penal Code on charges of concealing evidence.

“Who made them hide it? The truth must come out,” said complainant Ibrahim Kunbhar. “His first autopsy report, which listed the cause of death as a bullet, cannot now be trusted. He could have been killed by torture,” he added.

The family had alleged that Dr Kunbhar was allegedly tortured at the residence of a prominent religious figure and then killed before his body was set on fire to destroy evidence.

Thakur Nazir of the Sindh Human Rights Commission said the exhumation was carried out to substantiate allegations of torture.

Published in Dawn magazine, October 20, 2024.