Pakistani blasphemy suspect's family forgives police officer accused of killing him

Haji Daad Muhammad, father of Saayd Muhammad Sarhadi, a police officer who opened fire and killed a man in custody on blasphemy allegations at a police station, sits with guests at his residence in Quetta, Pakistan September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer

QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - The family of a blasphemy suspect killed in custody in southwestern Pakistan has forgiven the police officer accused of killing him, saying they would not press charges "in the name of God".

Abdul Ali, 52, also known as Sakhi Lala, was shot dead last week in a heavily fortified police station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, by police officer Saayd Mohammad Sarhadi, who had accessed the facility by pretending to be Ali's relative, police said.