FIA assigns probe into lawyer Zeeshan Shabbir custodial death
Pakistan
DPO Vehari hands Zeeshan Shabbir custodial death probe over to FIA after Prosecutor General asserts FIA’s mandate; Punjab lawyers protest and boycott courts over the killing.
LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) - The District Police Officer (DPO) Vehari has ordered the transfer of the investigation into the killing of lawyer Zeeshan Shabbir, who died in alleged police custody, to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Zeeshan Shabbir was reportedly killed during a staged police encounter in Vehari. The incident drew the attention of Punjab Prosecutor General Syed Farhad Ali Shah, who objected to the investigation being handled by the police themselves.
Syed Farhad Ali Shah stated that deaths occurring in police custody fall under the investigative mandate of the FIA. He directed that the case of Zeeshan Shabbir be probed under the Custodial Death and Torture Act.
Following the issuance of the inquiry directive by the Prosecutor General’s office, the DPO Vehari transferred the investigation to the FIA.
Meanwhile, earlier, lawyers across Punjab staged a strong protest and boycotted courts in response to the killing of their colleague.
