PM summons Punjab chief minister over Sahiwal incident

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to discuss the alleged Sahiwal encounter which led to the killing of four people.

According to sources, the premier has sought details from the chief minister over the incident and will discuss the initial report submitted by a joint investigation team probing the killings. 

Sources further said that the prime minister is irked over the way the aftermath of the tragedy was handled by the Punjab government. Moreover, the premier is expected to direct the chief minister to appoint a focal person on the matter.

PM Imran is also expected to seek the chief minister's advice regarding reforms in Punjab police.

On January 19, four people — including three members of a family — were killed in an alleged encounter in Sahiwal. Counter Terrorism Department (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.