Presidency denies reports of pardoning Rangers men

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  • Officials say president not received any such summary in June 2011 killing case

ISLAMABAD: The President House on Monday rejected media reports that President Mamnoon Hussain has granted pardon to Rangers personnel sentenced to life imprisonment for involvement in the June 2011 killing of a citizen inside a public park in Karachi.

The case had drawn public outrage after a video of the June 2011 incident went viral on social media, showing the 22-year-old victim Sarfraz Shah lying in a pool of blood after being shot by Rangers personnel at the Benazir Bhutto Park in Karachi’s Clifton area.

Quoting unidentified officials in the Sindh Home Department, a private TV channel had reported earlier that President Mamnoon in exercise of his powers under the Article 45 of the Constitution had granted pardon to the convicted men.

On Monday, the presidency rejected the reports, saying the president has not received any such summary. Victim’s brother Saalik Shah said that his family has only heard reports but has not received any official confirmation or denial.

“We did not receive any confirmation or denial of reports of the presidential pardon. Nobody has informed us officially as yet,” the channel quoted Shah as saying. The five convicted men were currently serving their sentences at the Central Jail in Karachi.