Sahiwal incident: Punjab govt challenges ATC verdict

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday filed a petition challenging the acquittal of the suspects in the Sahiwal incident, which saw multiple people killed at the hands of law enforcement agencies' personnel earlier this year.

The appeal was filed at the Lahore High Court (LHC) by Additional Prosecutor Abdul Samad Khan.

The petition stated that either the investigation into the incident was flawed or witnesses had changed their statements. 

Also read: ATC acquits all accused in Sahiwal encounter

The Punjab government approached the LHC days after Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered it to challenge the ATC's decision.

On January 19, four people, including three of a family, were killed in an alleged shootout in Sahiwal, with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel claiming they had killed a local commander of militant organisation Daesh and three others in the operation. 

Also read: Sahiwal’s JIT report: More of the same

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.