Karachi police chief kept interrupting grandfather of toddler killed in crossfire
'You can see the CCTV footage for yourself. Everything will be clear," the grandfather said
April 18, 2019
KARACHI: The city's police chief on Wednesday kept interrupting the grandfather of Ahsan, a toddler who was killed in alleged crossfire between the police and suspects near Safoora Chowrangi at the University Road, while speaking to the bereaved family during a condolence visit, Geo News reported.
When the late 19-month-old boy's grandfather said his grandson was shot when police officers were fighting among themselves, Additional Inspector-General (AIG) Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh interjected and stated: "All of these things will be in the investigation."
To which, Ahsan's grandfather responded by saying: "You can see the CCTV [closed-circuit television] footage for yourself.
"Everything will be clear," he added.
Cutting in again, Dr Shaikh reportedly replied, saying: "Haji sahab [respected elder], we have set up a team of your choice. Let the investigation do its job."
While addressing a press conference here, the inspector-general (IG) of police for Sindh, Dr Kaleem Imam, had expressed remorse over the alleged police encounter that claimed Ahsan's life. Police want such incidents to not be repeated in future, he said, adding that officer would now be given due training.
AIG Dr Shaikh, however, handed over the investigation to the counter-terrorism department and a report is expected to be given to him within 10 days.
Earlier in the day, four police officers were arrested in what has become yet another incident of alleged police negligence during a shootout with suspected criminals. The arrests were made over charges of murder and attempted murder after a first information report (FIR) was registered on behalf of the toddler's father.
The bereaved parents, however, had rejected the FIR, saying it was not filed according to their wishes and that the police were trying to protect the officials involved in the incident.
Speaking to Geo News, the deceased's mother had said she, her husband, and her late son were going to the market to buy groceries in a rickshaw when police officers on a motorcycle started firing.
The officers, she claimed, opened fire right in front of her and there was "no encounter".
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah demanded report of the incident, while Murtaza Wahab — the adviser to the chief minister on law and information — stressed that an investigation into the incident should not be carried out by police as they had been accused in the case.
