Sahiwal JIT to submit report on Tuesday: Punjab CM

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar speaking to the media outside the Punjab Assembly on Monday said the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the Sahiwal killings would present its report tomorrow (Tuesday).

"I was in Mianwali when I was informed about the Sahiwal incident," he said. "A high-level JIT is probing the incident and will submit its report by 5pm tomorrow," he added.

"We have announced to give Rs20 million to the affected family," the provincial chief minister said while adding that a meeting has been summoned at 5pm tomorrow.

Buzdar further said, "I cannot hang anyone and action will be taken after the inquiry report is submitted."

"I will take action and show you," he added.

On Saturday, four people – including three members of a family – were killed in an alleged encounter in Sahiwal. CTD personnel said they had killed a local commander of militant organisation Daesh and three others in the operation. Eyewitnesses, however, disputed the claim and said the people in the car did not fire at officials, nor were any explosives recovered from the vehicle.

The dead included a man, his wife and their teenage daughter, as well as the driver of the car who, according to the CTD, was involved in terrorist acts.

JIT visits site of incident, summons eyewitnesses

The JIT on Monday visited the site of the incident and summoned eyewitnesses to record their statements.

JIT members visited the site of the incident and directed eyewitnesses to appear at Police Lines to record their statements. However, the eyewitnesses demanded that their statements be recorded at the site of the incident.

On the refusal of the eyewitnesses to visit Police Lines, the JIT members left the site of the incident.

“The JIT under AIG Aijaz Shah’s supervision is investigating from different angles,” sources said.

“Other than probing officials of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) who are under custody, the JIT has also obtained information from AIG CTD Rai Tahir. A report submitted to the Punjab government by CTD has also been made part of the investigation,” sources added.

Our duty to end decades of tolerance for killings through encounters: Mazari

Earlier during the day, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari took to Twitter and said, "From Rao Anwar to the Sahiwal incident - as part of the government it is our duty to end decades of tolerance for killings through "encounters". What was tolerated, even encouraged by prev governments/state must end now as we strengthen rule of law &and accountability for all."