Police confess

A young boy, who was killed by Nishter Colony Police during an engineered encounter on May 10, was shot dead by the investigation in-charge and his gunmen, confessed Sub Inspector Riaz Ahmed, an accused in the aforementioned case, in his written statement to the investigation officer of the case on Wednesday. Riaz, in his written statement to SSP Investigation Abdul Razzaq Cheema, stated that he was on a routine patrol when he heard a wireless message from the control room about a robbery being carried out by three robbers at Al-Makkah Medical Store located in Nishter Colony Police precincts.
He said when he reached the place, the deceased, Shahbaz Butt, had already been caught by the Muhafiz Squad personnel. He said that he took Butt into custody and shifted him to Nishter Colony Police Station. In the meanwhile, the wireless operator of DSP Riasat Ali called him and forwarded instructions on behalf of the DSP to take Butt to Rohi Nala where an encounter was staged later.
Riaz claimed that as he reached the scene, Investigation In-charge Zulifqar Vireo, Sub-Inspector of Investigations Wing Akber Ali and SHO Naveed Akmal also came there. He claimed that aforesaid officers directed him to radio information about a motorcycle snatching incident. Meanwhile investigation in-charge brought out Butt and ordered him to run, he said. Riaz said that as Shahbaz started running, gunmen of investigation in-charge opened fire on him. He said that SHO Naveed Akmal pointed out that Butt was injured but was not dead, over which investigation in-charge and Akber Ali fired bullets again and Butt died instantly.
Riaz claimed that the SHO later ordered Muhafiz Squad’s cops to carry out aerial firing in order to prove the incident as a real encounter. He said that later both officers embraced each other in delight and ordered him to shift the body to the dead house.
Sources said that the inquiry has taken another turn after Riaz’s confession as earlier, during an initial inquiry, DIG Maj Mubashar was never held responsible. They said that the investigation in-charge would now be held as the main accused in the case.
SSP Investigations Cheema on Wednesday recorded statements of all the accused police officials in his office. Sources said the SSP questioned loopholes in the three FIRs. Sources said that the SSP also visited the crime scene and Al-Makkah Medical Store, where he recorded the statements of the local residents and medical storeowner. The SSP, after declaring the incident a fake encounter during preliminary interrogations, said that the investigations were underway and he would carry out investigations on merit.
DIG Maj Mubashar had termed the encounter a fake while talking to reporters at the IG Office, after which a case was registered under sections 302/34 and 109 of PPC against DSP Riasat Ali Javed, Sub Inspector Muhammad Riaz and two constables Abdul Qadir and Asif.
The DIG has also recommended in the inquiry report that eight other police officials would be bound to appear before the investigation team on their call. However, the eight accused officials could continue performing their duties. The inquiry held by DIG Mubashar found out that Butt did not have a criminal record.
Nishtar Colony Police had claimed that the robber had opened fire on police, which led to an exchange of fire. Newly-inducted CCPO Malik Ahmad Raza Tahir has directed the Lahore Police to adopt offensive policing against the criminals which has made police officials ‘trigger-happy’. Around seven people have been killed in staged encounters since CCPO Tahir has taken the charge of office.