KARACHI – A Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) formed under the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has held former Malir Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar Ahmed Khan responsible for killing Naqeebullah Mehsud and three others in a “fake encounter” in Karachi on January 13, Dawn reported on Friday.
A JIT member informed Dawn on the condition of anonymity that the investigation team has “held Rao Anwar guilty of killing an innocent person in a fake encounter”.
The news source has further learnt that the JIT — which was led by Additional IG Dr Aftab Pathan — has submitted its findings before the competent authority.
Background
The former Malir SSP and his team went into hiding after being blamed for the killing of Naqeebullah and three others in an ‘encounter’ in Shah Latif Town area on January 13. Initially, he claimed the four men were affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State (IS).
An FIR was registered against Anwar and his team at Sacchal police station after a three-member inquiry committee headed by the Counter-Terrorism Department AIG established their involvement in the crime. The document includes clauses of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
JIT probing Naqeebullah murder case
On March 21, the apex court had ordered the formation of a JIT to investigate the alleged encounter.
A top court constituted five-member joint interrogation team headed by Sindh AIG Aftab Pathan is investigating the extrajudicial killing while SSP Anwar has been in JIT custody since he surrendered at the Supreme Court (SC). Members of Anwar’s police team, at least 13 now-dismissed policemen, are absconding.
During investigations, the former Malir SSP claimed he had no role in the ‘encounter’. He told the JIT that he visited the site after the incident. “I did not order them [police team] to stage an encounter. My mobile phone’s location can be checked to verify my statement. I cannot say exactly whether they killed them [Naqeebullah and others] intentionally or unintentionally because I could not investigate the case. They should be arrested and asked why and how they killed them, instead of questioning me,” a source privy to the matter quoted Anwar telling the JIT.
