Sahiwal killings forensic report finds CTD tampered with digital evidence

 

LAHORE: A forensic report submitted to a joint investigation team probing the killing of four people by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel in an alleged encounter in Sahiwal last month has found evidence of tampering in the digital records by the higher-ups.

Forensic sources revealed on Friday that CTD officials tampered with the digital video recorder (DVR) hard disk before it was sent into the forensics for investigation. The sources also said they can identify the person who tampered with the DVR.

The DVR recordings have revealed details of who issued orders to fire at the ill-fated vehicle, the sources confided, adding that it was now necessary to conduct a polygraph test of top CTD officials.

A close examination of two submachine guns (SMGs) found from the site of the incident revealed that the weapons had also been tampered with, the sources added.

Forensic experts also found a bullet embedded in the vehicle that was targetted by the CTD, they further said.

On January 19, four people - including three members of a family - were killed in an alleged shootout in Sahiwal, with the CTD personnel claiming they had killed a Daesh militant in the 'operation'. Eyewitnesses, however, disputed the claim, saying that the occupants of the vehicle had not fired at the authorities, nor were any explosives recovered from them.

On Thursday, the Lahore High Court ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.