Govt announces judicial probe into custodial torture.

Byline: Manzoor Ali

PESHAWAR -- The police and a mob clashed over an incident of custodial torture outside the provincial assembly's building here on Thursday with the provincial government announcing the holding of a judicial probe to the police's brutality.

Hundreds of protesters, mostly from Tehkal area, where torture victim Radiullah alias Amirae lived, took to the streets.

A large number of protesters gathered in front of the Peshawar Press Club building and blocked the Sher Shah Suri Road to traffic, burned old tyres and shouted slogans against police over their brutality.

Later, some of them walked to the Surey Pul Chowk in front of the provincial assembly's building, where they were joined by a large group of protesters from Tehkal area.

There followed clashes between the police and protesters. The police used teargas shells and baton charge to disperse the mob, while the protesters retaliated by throwing stones on them.

Police, mob clash outside assembly building

The protest led to the closure of the Khyber Road and nearby arteries forcing motorists to wait for long hours in scorching heat.

Protests against the stripping and torture of the accused in police custody were also reported in Swat, Charsadda, Bajaur, Mohmand and Swabi districts, where mobs demanded strict action against the culpable police officials.

Also on Thursday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced the holding of a probe into the incident through a Peshawar High Court judge.

Addressing a news conference, adviser to the chief minister on information Ajmal Wazir said a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan discussed the matter.

The meeting, which was attended by the law minister, chief secretary, inspector general of police and other senior officials, decided that under the KP Tribunal of Inquiry Ordinance, a probe led by a high court judge would be conducted into the torture incident.

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