An anti-terrorism court in Sindh’s Mirpurkhas granted on Tuesday bail to nine suspects named in the killing of blasphemy suspect Dr Shanawaz, who was allegedly shot dead by district police in a staged encounter on Sept 19.

All nine suspects, hailing from Umerkot, appeared before the court. The court approved their bail applications, leading to their release.

Among those granted bail are Bilal, Saddam, Shakeel, Mohammad Shahid, Mohammad Sahil, Altaf Hussain, Bilawal, Mohammad Ayan, and Wahaj. All of whom were implicated in cases related to arson and rioting in Umerkot.

This development comes on the heels of significant progress in the investigation surrounding Dr Shanawaz’s death, which occurred under disputed circumstances involving a staged police encounter linked to the alleged blasphemy charges.

On September 19, a mob seized the body of blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar, who was reportedly killed in a police encounter, and set it on fire in Umerkot.

This incident followed the filing of a blasphemy case against him on September 17, with news of his death emerging on the night of September 18-19.

A Sindh government inquiry later revealed that the suspect was killed in a fake police encounter in Umerkot.

In light of a judicial magistrate’s order later int the day, a special medical board exhumed Dr Shahnawaz’s body to carry out a post-mortem examination. According to the court order, it has to be confirmed if he was subjected to torture in police custody and burnt.

The exhumation took place under the supervision of Civil Judge Judicial Magistrate One, Amir Rajput.

The medical board included members from the Facilities Management and Pathology Departments of Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences University in Jamshoro. Following the exhumation, doctors collected essential samples for further analysis.

Umerkot police ensured that the media was kept at a distance from the grave and surrounding area during the process.

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Videos circulating on social media showed local clerics throwing rose petals at the police and praising the officers for killing the blasphemy suspect.

Last month, police booked Moulvi Umar Jan Sarhandi and three other policemen on the charges of killing the doctor.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar told reporters last month that the inquiry committee found that the doctor was killed in “a fake encounter”.

“No matter how powerful or high an officer someone is, respect and observance of the Constitution and the law is mandatory for everyone,” the home minister said.