KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday dismissed five cases against Naqeebullah Mehsud and others in light of the report submitted by a committee probing the murder case.
Police had filed cases of terrorism, possession of weapons and other charges against the suspects. In the report submitted to the ATC by the inquiry committee, the murders of Naqeebullah, Nazir Jan, Sabir and Ishaq were termed as “extra-judicial killing”.
The report further states that “Naqeebullah and others were labelled terrorists and killed in a deserted area,” adding that the committee visited the crime scene and did not find any bullet holes nor exploded hand grenades.
It was also stated that in light of the evidence, “the encounter was fake and fabricated,” adding that “weapons and bullets were placed in the room after the murders took place and Rao Anwar and his aides were present at the site”.
Former Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar and Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Qamar Ahmed Shaikh along with other police officials were booked for allegedly killing four men, including Naqeebullah Mehsud in a fake police encounter in Shah Latif Town on Jan 13, 2018.
On July 11, the ATC granted bail to Anwar against a surety of Rs1 million.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court turned down a petition by Anwar, seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
A bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar rejected the former SSP’s plea. “We cannot strike his name off the ECL,” asserted the top judge. He also expressed displeasure over the provision of facilities to the accused and expressed surprise over his acquittal.
Rao Anwar retired from police service on Jan 1.
