KARACHI: The inquiry report in the high-profile alleged encounter of Naseemullah alias Naqeebullah Mehsud, carried out by former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, has revealed that it was a “coordinated fake encounter”.
Inquiry conducted by a team, comprising of Additional Inspector General Police Counter-Terrorism Department (AIG CTD) Sanaullah Abbas, Director Inspector General Police (DIGP) East Zone Sultan Ali Khawaja, Director Inspector General Police (DIGP) South Zone Azad Khan, described eyewitnesses account saying that Naqeebullah was “picked up” along with two others – Hazrat Ali and Qasim – on January 3 by plain clothed men and taken to Sachal Police Post before being moved to another location.
They were illegally detained and tortured until January 6 when the eyewitnesses were released while Naqeebullah remained in the custody. The eyewitnesses added that they came to know about the Naqeebullah’s encounter from media on January 17 as did his family who, soon after, negated claims made by SSP Rao Anwar that Naqeebullah was a “terrorist”.
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According to the report, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the committee found no evidence of Naqeebullah’s involvement in any terrorist activities. Furthermore, the criminal records presented to the committee by the ‘encounter specialist’ of one ‘Naqeeb’ were not that of Naqeebullah killed in the ‘encounter’.
“His social media profile shows him as a liberal and fun loving young man with a penchant for modelling,” the report added.
The report concluded that considering the suspect was moved from different locations until being killed on January 13, the encounter is a prima facie.
The committee also pointed out that ex-SSP Rao Anwar persistently avoided attending inquiry proceedings. Despite being contacted through mobile phone and wireless controls, he “deliberately avoided joining the inquiry proceedings”.
On January 22, Anwar was called for a meeting with National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), which was on a fact finding visit on the instructions of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq at the Central Police Office but he “stayed away” from the meeting.
Where the former SPP consistently failed to show up in investigation meetings, he remained in touch with media persons. “He constantly appeared on media for interviews,” the report said. “He kept on interacting with media giving an impression that he was not called by the committee.”
“He showed extreme indiscipline and disobeyed the lawful commands by officials,” the report added.
The committee observed that Rao Anwar was “constantly trying to hamper and obstruct the process of justice”. They also mentioned his attempt to flee the country from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad on forged documents, knowing that he was being “investigated for serious allegations and is bound by law to join the proceedings”.
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In its recommendations, the body has asked for protection for the witnesses as it stated that both Ali and Qasim were reluctant to appear during inquiry as they feared for their life. They were convinced by the Mehsud community to participate in the investigations.
“There is extreme fear prevailing amongst the witnesses who are fearful of their security, resultantly they are afraid to cooperate during investigations,” the report said, adding, “The eyewitnesses may be provided protection under the provisions of Sindh Witness Protections Act 2013.”
According to the FIR of the alleged encounter, “SIP Aman Ullah Marwat, ASI Gada Hussain, HC Sadaqat Ali Shah, HC Mohsin Abbass, PC Rala Shamim and driver/pc Rana Riaz were also present at the place of incident at the time of encounter.”
The inquiry found through call details records (CDRs) analysis that Anwar and his close aides namely SIP Marwat, SIP Shoaib, SIP Muhammad Anar, ASI Khair Muhammad, ASI Hussain, HC Faisal Mehmood, HC Abbass and PC Shamim were present on the scene of the alleged encounter or in its vicinity.
The committee has further recommended that as an FIR has been registered against former SSP Rao Anwar and his team and considering the importance of the matter, “the investigation may be carried out by another team headed by an officer of the rank of AIGP”.
In another report, the NCHR painted a bleak picture of the law and order situation in Karachi, blaming police for the worsening situation.
“From the record shown, copy not provided, it became evident to the inquiry team that Rao Anwar has been involved in 192 encounters in which 444 people were killed,” it said. “Keeping circumstantial evidence and its analysis, the NCHR Inquiry Team is of the opinion that the case is that of an extrajudicial killing, rather than a police encounter as claimed by the police party involved.”
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Original news : https://tribune.com.pk/story/1620232/1-coordinated-fake-encounter-naqeeb-rao-anwar-police-team-inquiry-report/