KARACHI: The anti-terrorism court (ATC) hearing the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case has reserved its decision on the bail plea of former SSP Malir Rao Anwar.
The decision will now be announced on July 10.
While presenting arguments, the defence counsel argued that Anwar held a press conference announcing the ‘fake’ police encounter hours before the killing took place. Naqeebullah, along with his companions, was murdered at 3:21 during a fake encounter, Advocate Salahuddin Panhwar argued.
“Confirmed murder of Naqeebullah and other companions in a conference at 1:21 before the actual encounter took place,” Panhwar argued. “How can the murder of the suspects be confirmed if the encounter was staged later.”
Panhwar further contended that Anwar was present on-site when the encounter took place, and this is proven because he personally called the media personnel and informed them of the ‘encounter’ and asked them for coverage. Police declared Anwar as a suspect in the investigation.
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.