Quetta, September 12, 2024-A Quetta police officer has been detained for killing a man in custody on suspicion of blasphemy charges, according to police officials. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Baloch reported that the officer, whose name has not been disclosed, gained access to the police station by pretending to be a relative of the detainee before opening fire.
The man accused of blasphemy had been transferred earlier in the week to a more secure station due to heightened tensions and a mob’s demands for his release. Protests led by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and other religious groups resulted in roadblocks on the western bypass, with demonstrators burning tyres and staging rallies throughout the city.
Protesters also attacked the Kharotabad police station with a hand grenade, which exploded outside the building. The police had registered an FIR against the suspect, identified as a resident of Kharotabad, who allegedly made offensive remarks about the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in a phone conversation that went viral on social media.
Authorities responded by filing an FIR under Sections 295C and 34 of the penal code and initiated an investigation. Negotiations with TLP leaders eventually led to the dispersal of the crowd and the reopening of the western bypass. The TLP continued to protest in other parts of Quetta, carrying placards and banners with their demands.
