Pakistani Police Allegedly Shoot Protesters, Beat Christian Man with Logs

Ben Graham | February 4, 2016
DONATE
Font Size

In the past two days, Pakistani police forces have been reportedly killing protesters and torturing an alleged thief by stringing him up from the ceiling naked and beating him to death with logs. 

On Tuesday, Pakistani police clashed with airline employees protesting against the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines by blocking the main entrance in Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. GEO TV reports that police and paramilitary rangers originally deployed tear gas and water cannons, but somewhere in the confusion guns were fired into the crowd, killing at two and injuring several more.

"Rangers personnel fired the shots," alleged Capt Sohail Baloch, Chief of the Joint Action Committee. "They didn't tell us they would be using force. Firing straight at unarmed people is unacceptable."

The Sindh Rangers deny firing their weapons and claim the gunfire came from the protesters, saying they’ll be investigating the empty shells in an attempt to determine who actually opened fire.

Then, on Thursday, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) reports a Christian servant accused of stealing from his Muslim overseer was taken into custody and stripped naked, had his hands tied behind his back and was then hung him from the ceiling with a chair to barely support his weight.

Apparently, false accusations against Christians by Muslims isn’t a new phenomenon in Pakistan. Pakistani police are known to torture suspects during interrogation until they can get a confession.

So, Liaqat Masih hung there, his shoulders dislocated as two men pulled the rope every time Masih’s feet touched the floor. When Masih refused to confess to the crime, the officers then spent an hour beating him with logs until died.

When the officers realized Masih wasn’t breathing they lowered him into a pool of his own urine. 

Following an autopsy, Pakistani officials concluded Masih died of a heart attack, mysteriously failing to record Masih’s numerous bruises and dislocated shoulders.  

The ACLJ is petitioning for another autopsy under the supervision of a magistrate in hopes of finding evidence to back up their allegations.

donate