Naqeebullah's murder termed 'extrajudicial killing', ATC quashes cases

KARACHI:  An anti terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday quashed five cases against Naqeebullah Mehsud, ARY News reported.

An inquiry report submitted in court declared the murder of four people in Karachi an incident of “extra judicial killing.”

Last year, Naqeebullah Mehsud, Sabir, Nazar Jan and Ishaq had been declared terrorists and killed in a staged encounter.

The report relayed that the inquiry committee and the investigation officer inspected the crime scene. “No marks of fired bullets and hand grenades were found at the poultry farm, which was pointed out as the scene of the encounter.”

It further said the circumstantial evidences indicated that it was a baseless and staged encounter. “All four people including Naqeebullah were killed in a room and the weapons were kept at the scene afterwards,” adding that former Senior Superintendent Police Malir, Rao Anwar and his other accomplices were present at the time of the incident.

Anwar along with other police officials had been booked for allegedly killing four men in a fake police encounter in Shah Latif Town on Jan 13.

The murder had triggered widespread outrage on social media when the family of aspiring fashion model rejected claims that Mehsud was a member of a terrorist outfit and had any criminal record.

On July 11, 2018, the ATC granted bail to Anwar against a surety bond of Rs 1 million.

However, 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 former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had rejected the former cop’s plea.

It is pertinent to mention here that Anwar retired from police service on Jan 1 this year.