IGP forms committee to probe killing of Waziristan man in Karachi 'police shootout'

KARACHI: Inspector General Police (IGP) Sindh, AD Khawaja on Thursday ordered the formation of a three-member committee to probe the extrajudicial killing of Naseemullah alias Naqeebullah, a 27-year-old from South Waziristan. 

Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had directed Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal to conduct an inquiry into the controversial killing. 

SSP Malir Rao Anwar in a media talk had claimed to have shot down four terrorists, including Naseemullah, allegedly affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, in a police encounter at Shah Latif town on January 13.

However, acquaintances and relatives of the deceased dispute the claim and term the incident an extrajudicial murder.

SSP Anwar informed Geo News on Thursday that Naseemullah's real name was Naqeebullah and he was a wanted man living in Hub after arriving from DI Khan. 

He also dismissed the social media campaign in deceased's favour and stuck to his stance that he was a terrorist. 

Replying to Bilawal's tweet, Siyal stated on Twitter that he has appointed DIG South Azad Khan to conduct an inquiry into the incident. 

PTI's Khurram Zaman submitted a resolution in the Sindh assembly against the killing of Naseemullah. 

Speaking to Geo News earlier, relatives of Naseemullah said that the deceased came to Karachi from South Waziristan one year ago and ran a clothing shop at Al-Asif Square, and was not involved in any unlawful activities.

A relative of his told The News that Naseemullah disappeared from Sohrab Goth on January 3. 

However, SSP Anwar claimed in his media talk that the police raided the terrorists' hideout on a tip-off. The suspects fired on police and threw hand grenades, he said, adding that in the exchange of fire all four terrorists were killed.

He also claimed that among the suspects was a gunman of late TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud and notorious Lashkar-e-Jhangvi terrorist Maulvi Ishaq.

Funeral prayers

The funeral prayers for the deceased were offered in his native city Tank Thursday evening. A large number of people from Mehsud and Burki tribes attended the prayers, at which relatives and friends of the deceased were seen overwhelmed by grief and sorrow.

Protests were held over the suspected extrajudicial killing in Tank, Bannu, Zhob and Dera Ismail Khan. The protesters demanded the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the incident and form a judicial commission to probe into it.

Naseemullah will be laid to rest in his South Waziristan on Friday.

Imran condemns Naseemullah's killing

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan denounced Naseemullah's killing as "utterly condemnable."

"Punjab police's brutal "encounters" are well documented. Sindh's highly politicised police is no better," he said in a tweet.

Social media reacts to 'extrajudicial killing' 

Social media expressed its thoughts on Naseemullah's killing, with some expressing their condolences over his death after acquaintances of the deceased disputed SSP Anwar's claim and called it an extrajudicial murder.

Civil society activist Jibran Nasir demanded an investigation into the controversial killing.

"Youth activists from FATA are challenging the killing of Naqeeb Mehsud by Sindh Police in Supreme Court. Who else wants to be a party to the petition?" tweeted FATA Youth Jirga founding member Nizamuddin Khan.

Another user also demanded a probe into the killing.