The Unfinished Case of Dr. Shahnawaz
The killing of Dr. Shahnawaz Kunbhar in September 2024 raised profound questions about the rule of law, due process and the protection of life in the face of serious allegations. An official police inquiry subsequently concluded that he had been arrested in Karachi and killed in what it described as a staged encounter. A murder case was registered against police officials and others, while the Sindh High Court later transferred the investigation to the Federal Investigation Agency.
Almost two years on, the case continues through the legal system. The proceedings have raised wider questions that go beyond one individual: What protections does the law provide to a person accused of a crime? What happens when the right to a fair trial is replaced by violence? How should allegations against law-enforcement personnel be investigated, and who is ultimately responsible when state power is alleged to have been abused?
The discussion will look at the legal journey of the case, the evidence and official inquiries, the questions of accountability that remain, the role of the provincial and federal prosecution departments in the present case, and what the case tells us about the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights in Pakistan.
About the Panelists:
- Sajjad Ahmed Chandio
(Advocate Supreme Court, Former President Awami Tehreek, Rights Activist) - Meer Ahmed Mangrio
(Advocate Supreme Court, Principal of the Sindh Mehran Institute of Law) - Muhammad Ibrahim kunbhar
(High Court Lawyer, Activist; Brother-in-Law of Dr. Shahnawaz Kumbhar) - Saeed Chandio
(M.Phil Scholar, Activist — Moderator)
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
Click here for Google Maps Location