Punjab govt rubbishes the claims that PTI worker Ali Bilal died in custodial torture
LAHORE, Mar 11 (SABAH): The Punjab government on Saturday rubbished the claims that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Ali Bilal died in custodial torture after he was arrested during clashes between police and workers of the political party in Lahore this past week.
Ali Bilal, affectionately called Zillay Shah, was taken to the Services Hospital in Lahore on Tuesday evening, where he was pronounced dead. PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and other party leaders later claimed that he was killed by police.
To address the allegations, Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr. Usman Anwar, Lahore CCPO Bilal Saddique Kamyana and other officials held a joint press conference.
The caretaker Punjab chief minister said he had not issued any order for torture of people. Speaking about the death of the PTI worker, he said Ali Bilal did not die due to torture but he was hit by a vehicle. Saying the death of a human being was not a petty issue, he vowed action against those involved in the incident.
Mohsin Naqvi said Raja Shakeel Zaman had informed Dr. Yasmin Rashid that a man was hit by his vehicle. Later, both went to Zaman Park where Ms Rashid asked him there was no need to worry, the chief minister said.
“I have been accused of murder and an application is also being submitted,” he lamented, adding that the PTI was misleading people on this matter. “I was first accused of conspiracy and now allegations of murder are being leveled,” Mohin Naqvi said. “We also have families, kids and relatives,” he said, adding it’s injustice the way messages were being sent to my relatives.
He said attempts were being made to create unrest in the province ahead of elections scheduled for April 30. He said the PTI could hold its rally on some other day as the Lahore High Court had allowed Aurat March organisers to hold the demonstration.
“You are free to do anything in politics but don’t hurl wrong allegations,” he said, adding that an offer of Rs10 million was made to Zillay Shah’s father by PTI leadership for naming the government in the case but he refused to accept it.
The caretaker CM stated that he would have addressed the allegations differently if he was not in the coveted position and that it was his “responsibility to bear such attacks with restrain”, but the PTI’s move to file a first information report with murder charges on the basis of assumptions was “too much”.
“I will not surrender. I would prefer going home but will not give up,” the minister said.
Mohsin Naqvi deplored former health minister and PTI leader Yasmin Rashid’s press conference which targeted police and the administration despite knowing the “facts of the event”.
“Those who were in the car told her everything, however, the PTI kept blaming the provincial admin,” he said. The minister also alleged that Bilal’s father was offered money to back the faux narrative behind his death.
Discussing an audio clip making rounds on social media, he stated that the clip did not need verification as the validity of the clip was questionable.
He objected to the PTI’s decision to hold a rally on the day when the Aurat March and other gatherings were occurring in Lahore.
Naqvi said elections in Punjab were soon and that any law and order issues would hinder peace.
IGP Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar said the PTI worker died in a road accident after he was hit by a vehicle which is owned by PTI leader Raja Shakeel. “We have found blood stains on the vehicle,” he said.
He said police had received an appeal from Ali Bilal’s father for investigation into his death. He said stern action would be taken if evidence of police torture was found. He also lashed out at the social media campaign against police officials.
The Punjab police chief said the body of Ali Bilal was dropped at the Services Hospital at 6:52 PM, adding that the vehicle was owned by Raja Shakeel and it was recovered from Lahore’s Waris Road with the help of CCTV footage.
“We will present all evidence in the case to the father of the deceased PTI worker,” he said in the press conference where he also played confessional statements of the persons spotted driving the suspected vehicle. He said all the suspects had been arrested and they would be produced before the court.
“The evidence clearly indicate that this is an accident case. No accused in this case tried to kill and blame it on the police,” the IGP said.
Narrating the incident, the police official said “the body of an innocent man was brought to Services Hospital by a black Vigo at 6:52pm [on Wednesday].” He said the suspects “clearly looked tense” as seen in CCTV footage.
“They also tried to save the victim at one point and then transport him to the hospital. Then the manner in which the incident was misinterpreted was quite unfortunate,” the senior cop explained.
He said the owner of the vehicle had been identified as Raja Shakeel, who is vice president of the PTI in Central Punjab.
“He had no intention to kill the worker, but this is where the problem started from.”
Dr. Anwar said the conspiracy was foiled by technical teams of the police probing the case. “We got all evidences and details of phone calls made by political leaders to different people.”
The IG insisted that people aboard the car were not criminals as, according to him, they tried to save the man after hitting him. However, false videos and messages were posted on social media to portray police and the administration in a bad light.
Sharing details of the vehicle involved in the incident, the provincial police chief said: “A video of a black vehicle arriving at the Services Hospital was reported. The vehicle has been recovered with the help of 31 CCTV cameras and GPS from the Waris Shah road.”
He added that there was no conspiracy to kill the PTI worker. “The Punjab Police will share the investigation with [Bilal’s] father. We promise to present all the evidence to Zille Shah’s father.” He also asserted that all the proof will be presented before the court.