'Fake' encounters: SHC seeks replies on petition against Rao Anwar

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday gave more time to the Sindh chief secretary, home secretary, and provincial police chief Allah Dino Khowaja to file comments on a petition seeking probe into the death of 250 people in police encounters led by suspended superintendent of police Rao Anwar.

Anwar, who is facing murder charges for leading a staged encounter, which resulted in the death of aspiring fashion model Naqeebullah Mehsud, have gone into hiding, as Sindh police struggling to find him.

When a division bench of the high court took up the petition filed by Advocate Muzamil Mumtaz Meo Rajput, a state counsel sought time to submit comments on behalf of the official respondents.

The counsel argued that the petition was not maintainable and thus should be dismissed.

On which, the court directed the petitioner to satisfy it with regard to maintainability of the petition on next hearing on March 30.

In the petition, it was alleged that Rao Anwar killed many innocent people in fake encounters, but hardly few complaints surfaced against him as the legal heirs of those killed didn’t seek any action against him out of fear of persecution at the hand of police.

Those who dared approach higher authorities for legal action against the police officer were not paid any heed, it stated.

The petitioner wondered why Anwar was never transferred from Malir district despite serious allegations levelled against him.

In the past, SSP Anwar was suspended for umpteenth times over the allegations of fake encounters, but got reinstated to his post.

The police officer had violated the fundamental rights of citizens, but no action was taken against him, he argued.

The lawyer requested the court to order an inquiry into the killing of more than 250 innocent people in alleged fake police encounters.