In November 2014, a 45-year-old Pakistani Shia Muslim, Tufail Naqvi, was killed in custody by a police officer after he allegedly insulted the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. Tufail had reportedly been taken into custody in relation with injuries he had inflicted on two people during a “brawl,” the reason for which went unreported. The officer who killed Tufail, angry at his blasphemous comments, grabbed an axe and drove it into his neck.

“Tufail was kept in the lock-up but he continued uttering derogatory remarks and hurled abuse at policemen. He looked like a malang (wandering preacher) and seemed mentally imbalanced. Assistant Sub-Inspector Faraz Naveed, 36, became very angry on hearing the derogatory remarks against the companions of the Prophet and he killed the detainee with an axe in the lock-up.” - Ali Raza, officer

People who knew Tufail attested that he was not mentally well. A police official stated there was “evidence” that Tufail had stayed in an asylum and that he was prone to “hurl abuses at anyone.” The officer who killed Tufail was placed under arrest, but it is unclear whether he was ultimately charged or tried for any crime.

Tufail left behind a widow and four children.

“Those who die in bomb blasts are given compensation by the government. He was the only breadwinner of our family but nobody from the government has even contacted us, what to say of compensation. He was murdered in police custody and by a policeman, but no government official even thought about his family.” - Farzana Bibi, wife of Tufail Naqvi