Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar
Blasphemy Suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar Killed in Alleged Police Encounter
Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar, a medical professional from Umarkot district in Sindh, was shot dead by police on Wednesday night during what officials described as an encounter. The incident has raised questions as the slain man had recently released a video statement denying involvement in the blasphemous content attributed to him on social media.
Police identified the deceased as Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar, who had gone into hiding two days prior after being accused of insulting the Prophet Mohammed and sharing blasphemous content on his Facebook account. In his video statement, Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar claimed that his account had been hacked and misused to post the content in question. Despite his assertion of innocence, tensions escalated in the area, with protests and calls for his arrest.
According to local police chief Niaz Khoso, the incident occurred when officers signaled two men on a motorcycle to stop at a checkpoint in Mirpur Khas. “The men opened fire instead of stopping, prompting the police to retaliate. One suspect managed to escape, while the other was killed,” Khoso stated. It was only after the encounter that police discovered the identity of the deceased as the Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar, accused of blasphemy.
The news of Shahnawaz’s death spread quickly, and videos surfaced on social media showing local clerics and residents praising the police for their actions. In one video, flower petals were showered on police officers as a sign of approval for the killing.
Earlier in the day, angry protesters had set fire to Shah Nawaz’s clinic in Umerkot, demanding his arrest. The situation in the district had been tense, with law enforcement on high alert to prevent further unrest.
This incident follows a similar case in Quetta last week, where a police officer shot and killed another blasphemy suspect inside a police station. That suspect, Syed Khan, had been taken into custody after being rescued from a mob that accused him of insulting the Prophet Mohammed PBUH .
Blasphemy accusations are highly sensitive in Pakistan and often lead to violence. Under the country’s laws, those found guilty of insulting Islam or its religious figures can face the death penalty, though executions have not been carried out for such charges. However, incidents of mob violence and extrajudicial killings of those accused of blasphemy are not uncommon.
Shah Nawaz’s death adds to the list of controversial cases in which suspects have been killed before being brought to trial. As of now, there has been no official response from the Sindh government regarding the circumstances of the killing or the claims made by the police.