'Punjab govt desperately wanted to arrest Abid Boxer'

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The news of the arrest of former sub-inspector Abid Boxer is likely to place the Punjab government in trouble as he allegedly confessed to a string of encounters at the behest of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

However, analyst Hafeezullah Niazi on Thursday said that the main role in Abid Boxer’s arrest was played by the Punjab government. who was desperately seeking his arrest since several years.

“There is no doubt that the Punjab government desperately wanted to arrest Abid Boxer,” he said speaking during ARY News program ‘Off the Record.’

He said that all efforts taken for Boxer’s arrest were made by the Punjab government as he was absconding in Dubai since several years and was arrested when he attempt to flee from there.

He agreed that the history of police encounters by Abid Boxer cannot be denied, but furthermore, he was part of a ‘mafia’ which ruled the streets of Lahore in the mid-90s.

He said that it was unfortunate that preceding governments started a paradigm of extra-judicial killings, as crime rate increased exponentially along with weak prosecution by courts.

 

Imran Khan to approach courts

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has announced to approach the courts to uncover the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s support Abid Boxer in numerous extrajudicial killings.

The PTI chairman alleged that the former cop killed several people in staged encounters on directives of the Punjab chief minister.

“Boxer has previously admitted that he killed people in numerous fake encounters at behest of Shahbaz Sharif,” Khan said.

He said all the confessional statements by Boxer are on record that he never killed anyone without consent of Shahbaz Sharif.

Imran said the fugitive had left the country after learning that Punjab chief minister was planning to kill him.

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Punjab govt reject Imran’s allegations

The Punjab government has refuted allegations by PTI chairman Imran Khan that former sub-inspector Abid Boxer was behind a string of encounters at the behest of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Punjab governemt spokesman Malik Ahmed rejected the allegations as unfortunate and devoid of political acumen. He also termed Imran Khan as the undisputed kings of u-turns.

He said that arrest of fugitive Abid Boxer is an excellent example of law enforcement, while the PTI chairman has the right to approach the courts over the matter.

Notorious Boxer was arrested by Interpol from Dubai Airport. He was infamous for extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals and had been on the run for last eleven years.