Shahnawaz Kumbhar

Shahnawaz Kumbhar (Sindhi: شاهنواز ڪنڀر) was a local hospital doctor in Umerkot, Sindh, Pakistan, who was killed in a fake encounter by the Sindh Police on September 17, 2024. He was accused by a local mosque cleric of using blasphemous language against the Prophet Muhammad on social media. After a case was registered by the police based on a complaint from local mosque cleric Sabir Soomro under Article 295C, Dr. Shahnawaz was dismissed from his job at the civil hospital in Umerkot.

During the night of September 18-19, reports emerged that Dr. Shahnawaz had been killed in a police encounter. His relatives, who initially believed he was safe after being surrendered that night, were shocked to learn the next morning that he had been killed. The killing was supported by religious groups, but faced massive backlash from civil society and led to huge protests across Sindh. Provided by Wikipedia