–Punjab CM’s spokesperson says relatives of deceased to meet Sahiwal JIT head on Tuesday
LAHORE: Spokesperson to Punjab chief minister, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said on Monday that he had assured the family members of deceased Mohammad Khalil, who was killed along with his wife and daughter in the Sahiwal encounter, that a judicial commission would be formed if they were not satisfied with the probe into the victims’ deaths.
Addressing a press conference with Khalil’s brother Jalil, he announced that the deceased’s relatives had decided to meet Ijaz Hussain Shah, who is heading the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Sahiwal killings.
Gill said the relatives will meet Shah on Tuesday at 1 pm and go over both circumstantial and eye-witness evidence that had been collected following the incident.
“If Khalil’s family were reassured and their distrust no longer remained, the relatives will record their statements with the JIT, in light of which a conclusion will be reached in the investigation.”
He said that JIT head Shah had told him that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had been asked for videos regarding the incident, adding that those would be made part of the evidence.
As far as forensics is concerned, empty bullet casings that were recovered from the site of the incident were in the custody of the JIT. Gill added that as per the JIT head, weapons would be recovered from the five individuals, who were on judicial remand, once they were in police custody again.
He said the weapons will be sent along with the empties to a forensic lab to be matched.
As per Gill, the JIT head said they had collected a lot of evidence and if it was required to end the trust deficit with Khalil’s family, he was ready to share it.
