The stationhouse master (SHO) of the Haroonabad City Police Station in Pakistan has been suspended from service while four other police officials were booked on charges of keeping a person in illegal custody and torturing him.

The police were also charged with demanding a bribe for his release.

The first information report (FIR) registered with the City Haroonabad police on the complaint of Tasleem Bibi of Rehmat Town said that on Feb 6 at about 8:30pm, ASI Syed Fazal Abbas Shah along with three constables broke into her house without warrants and took her husband, Muhammad Asif, to the police station, Dawn News reported.

According to reports, the ASI demanded Rs200,000 bribe from the family to release Asif.

Bibi alleged that SHO Rao Shahid even demanded money for the release of her husband when the family approached him.

A senior police official, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that on learning about the incident of abduction and torture of a citizen by the police, Bahawalnagar District Police Officer Naseebullah Khan on Feb 14 sent the SP investigations to the Haroonabad City Police Station for an inquiry.

The SP confirmed the incident and held the policemen responsible for the development.

A case was also lodged against them.