The protest by the family of Muhammad Irfan, a youth who allegedly died due to custodial torture while in the custody of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Karachi Police, ended after seven hours of negotiations with authorities late Saturday night.

Following the breakthrough, the family took Irfan’s body to his native city, Bahawalpur, for burial.

Traffic flow was restored near Sohrab Goth Edhi Centre after the prolonged disruption, as police officials worked to normalise the situation.

The family had staged a sit-in with the victim’s body, demanding that a murder case be registered under their own complaint.

Two officials of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) — ASI Abid Shah and Asif Ali — have been arrested over their alleged involvement in Irfan’s death under custody.

Speaking to the Aaj News programme “Dus”, the victim’s uncle, Zia Muhammad, tearfully claimed that Irfan was brutally tortured.

“Even after he died, they kept beating his body,” he said, adding that Irfan’s companion witnessed the killing firsthand.

Police, however, registered a case on behalf of the state under Section 319 (manslaughter), describing the incident as accidental death.

The FIR, lodged at the Saddar Police Station by the SIU SHO, stated that “Investigating officers ASI Abid and Sarfaraz were interrogating Irfan when he suddenly fell unconscious. He was immediately shifted to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.”

The case has been filed under Sections 319/34, naming six officials. The FIR also mentions that “the case against the detainee appeared to be doubtful.”

Irfan’s family has rejected the police-filed case, accusing the force of shielding its own personnel.

“The police are both the killers and the complainants,” a family representative said, demanding that a murder and abduction case be registered against those responsible.

The renewed protest at Sohrab Goth severely affected traffic flow, leading to long queues of vehicles on adjoining roads.

It may be recalled that Irfan died in SIU custody on October 22, allegedly after police torture.

His family had earlier ended their protest following initial talks with the authorities, but resumed the sit-in after objecting to the case registered by the police.