Naqeebullah murder: Two main witnesses redact previous statements

 

An anti-terrorism court resumed hearing the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case against suspects, including the main accused former SSP Malir, Rao Anwar.

Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old native of Waziristan, was among three others who were accused of being terrorists and killed on the orders of then Malir SSP Rao Anwar, in what was later termed a fake encounter.

In today’s hearing, the two important witnesses, who are also policemen, redacted their previous statements in the case.

Rao Anwar, who earlier went into hiding when an FIR was filed against him and the court began proceedings, appeared along with the other suspects in today’s hearing as well.

The key witnesses, Shahzada Jahangir and Rana Asif, said that their previous statements were not based on truth as they "do not have any knowledge of the incident" and the statements were taken "forcefully".

Following the new twist in the proceedings, the appellant’s lawyer Salahuddin Panhwar said that the witnesses have changed their statements under duress from former SSP Malir Anwar.

The lawyer continued that they had earlier expressed reservations that the witnesses are susceptible to altering their statements under pressure.

After hearing the arguments, the court subsequently adjourned the hearing and summoned more witnesses in the case on the next hearing until July 28.

ATC summons witnesses

In the previous hearing, the ATC had summoned three witnesses to appear again to testify in the murder case, as they could not appear earlier in the hearing citing coronavirus concerns.

The eyewitnesses in the case had earlier identified the policemen involved in the picking and murder of the Waziristan resident. 

In 2018, the eyewitnesses along with Naqeebullah were allegedly picked up by the team of the then SSP Malir Rao Anwar from a hotel on January 3 and kept in illegal detention. The two were reportedly released after they bribed the police but Naqeebullah was kept in detention and later killed in the ‘encounter’.

The court had started the trial in March 2019 upon an appeal filed by the Naqeebullah's father, Muhammad Khan. 

It is pertinent to mention that Muhammad Khan has passed away. However, before his death, he had expressed his distrust in the judicial system and the authorities, for he had been receiving death threats for pursuing the case. 

Twenty-three policemen, including former SSP Malir Rao Anwar, are charged with the murder of Naseemullah Mehsud aka Naqeebullah Mehsud, who along with three others - Sabir, Nazar Jan and Ishaq - was killed in a fake encounter on the outskirts of the city on January 12, 2018.