An inquest into the killing of Shoaib Khan, a young migrant killed by police during an anti-poaching operation, begins at the Nicosia District Court on Wednesday at 10:00.
Khan, a Pakistani national, was fatally wounded on 6 January 2025, when members of an anti-poaching unit under the Mobile Immediate Action Unit (MMAD) fired on two vehicles near the Potamia buffer zone. While police stated the officers fired to immobilise the cars during a suspected smuggling operation, a post-mortem examination later confirmed Khan was shot in the back.
The case has been marked by significant contradictions. Khan’s body was first found in a parking lot in Nicosia. A state coroner initially ruled out foul play, attributing the death to natural causes, before a 9mm police bullet was discovered in Khan’s body four days later. According to court reports, the Law Office subsequently decided not to prosecute the officers involved.
In a statement ahead of the proceedings, the “Justice for Shoaib Khan” initiative, a coalition of activists and human rights groups, claimed that the inquest only moved forward following sustained pressure from the family. The group, which is monitoring the case, alleges that the handling of the killing suggests an attempt at a cover-up, citing the initial misclassification of the death.
The initiative also accused the state of failing to reimburse the family for expenses related to the repatriation of Khan’s body and his brother’s travel to Cyprus for identification.
“The inquest represents a crucial opportunity to bring this case into the public eye and expose the systemic failures that allowed this killing to occur with impunity,” the group said.
They also questioned how officers trained in precision shooting repeatedly missed targets such as tyres, hitting two cars instead. They are also seeking clarity on why the officers involved were not immediately suspended and why a criminal investigation was never launched despite “contradictory evidence” and the officers’ reported refusal to provide further statements.
While the officers face no criminal charges, two drivers involved in the incident—a 39-year-old Cameroonian and a 37-year-old Iranian—are currently in custody. They face charges of attempted murder of police officers and facilitating illegal entry. One suspect changed his testimony, admitting that Khan died immediately after the shooting before being transported to a car park in Strovolos.
The legal team representing Khan’s family claims they have been denied full access to investigative material and that officers involved have refused to provide further statements.
“Shoaib Khan’s killing is not an isolated incident. It is part of a wider system of border violence, where racialised migrants are subjected to extreme force and dehumanisation,” the “Justice for Shoaib Khan” initiative said.
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