Rao Anwar wasn’t present at Naqeebullah murder scene, counsel tells court

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KARACHI: The hearing of the bail of former SSP Malir Rao Anwar resumed in an anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Wednesday in the Naqeebullah murder case.

Anwar along with 11 of his subordinates has been facing trial for allegedly killing Naqeebullah Mehsud, a shopkeeper and an aspiring model from South Waziristan, and three others in an alleged staged encounter on January 13.

The accused appeared before the court on Wednesday for the hearing, where Anwar’s counsel Advocate Amir Mansoob Qureshi argued, “My client was not present at the crime scene.”

The court asked the counsel, “The victims were shot from inside a room and from the back. How come they were not shot from the front during the encounter?”

However, the former SSP Malir’s counsel said, “Anwar was neither involved in catching Naqeebullah nor in the encounter.”

Qureshi concluded his arguments after three hours following which the petitioner’s counsel, Salahuddin Panhwar, began presenting his arguments before the ATC.

The hearing was later adjourned.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, Anwar said he is satisfied with the court proceedings and awaits the next step on his bail plea.

On June 14, the court had adjourned the hearing of the case till July 4. It was reported that Anwar and the other accused appeared before the court for the hearing.

During the last hearing, Anwar denied involvement in Naqeebullah’s murder and said he will be proven innocent in the case.

The former SSP Malir claimed that record was available that proves that he played no role in detaining and killing Naqeebullah. Moreover, he stated that the case against him was taken up due to professional jealousy.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Faisal Siddiqui, the defence lawyer in the murder case alleged that an associate Saifur Rehman, who is pursuing the case was being threatened to drop the case.

In a letter to Malir Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Munir Ahmed Shaikh and Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amjad Javed Saleemi, Siddiqui claimed that former SSP Rao Anwar’s accomplices were behind the threats and that Rehman had received threatening phone calls regarding the matter.