KARACHI: The inquiry committee officials on Sunday accused SSP Rao Anwar of not cooperating with them, while the officer claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched against him.
Inquiry committee officials said Anwar has been called multiple times to produce evidence against Naseemullah and to prove his own innocence, but the SSP was not cooperating with the committee and has still failed to prove that Naseemullah was a terrorist.
SSP Anwar and his team are currently facing a departmental inquiry for conducting an alleged fake encounter in the Shah Latif Town area of Karachi on January 13, in which four men they claimed were militants were killed. One of the dead was Naseemullah.
According to witnesses and relatives, Naseemullah was abducted on January 3 from the Sohrab Goth area of the port city.
Sindh Inspector-General of Police Allah Dino Khawaja constituted a three-member inquiry committee headed by CTD Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi after the family of the victim claimed that Naseemullah was killed in an extrajudicial killing.
On the other hand, Anwar alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched against him. “The inquiry committee formed against me is not transparent and all the members of the committee are against me,” claimed the SSP.
Anwar said that he made multiple attempts to reach out to the committee members but they were refusing to meet him. He said that the SHO and his police party conducted an encounter, but oddly the inquiry being conducted is against him. He added that he always owned any encounters in front of the media to protect his officers.
Meanwhile, a meeting has also been scheduled at the Central Police Office for Monday (today) where besides police officials, representatives of human rights will also hear the version of SSP Anwar.
On the other hand, it was reported that the former District Malir police chief is likely to be arrested, along with his team, over the ‘extrajudicial killing’ of Naseemullah, alias Naqeebullah Mehsud, who hailed from South Waziristan.
Besides SSP Anwar, Malir Investigations SP Malik Altaf Sarwar, Shah Latif SHO Amanullah Marwat and his team members, including ASI Gada Hussain, Head Constable Sadaqat Hussain Shah, Mohsin Abbas and constables Raja Shamim Mukhtar and Rana Riaz Ahmed, have already been suspended on the recommendations of the committee. The committee has also recommended putting SSP Anwar and SP Sarwar’s names on the ECL to ensure a fair and transparent inquiry.
During its investigations, the committee also visited the crime scene. Their visits have suggested that SSP Anwar’s claims were incorrect.
The committee also questioned the imprisoned militants who denied having any links with the deceased. The inquiry committee believes that Naseemullah who was wanted by the police was another guy.
Now, the inquiry team is waiting for the arrival of Naseemullah’s heirs from DI Khan to register a murder case against SSP Anwar and his team.
Police commandoes have also been provided to the family to address their security concerns, said a senior police officer privy to the matter. He added that the police can itself register a case if the family refuses to do it.
“Anwar and his team members are likely to be arrested tonight or the tomorrow,” warned an official.
Meanwhile, SHOs of at least 13 police stations of Malir have been removed from their posts by the Sindh Additional IG. They include Sohrab Goth SHO Shoaib Sheikh alias Shoaib Shooter, Malir City SHO Rana Haseeb, Malir Cantt SHO Rana Dilshad, Memon Goth SHO Gulzar Tunio and Steel Town SHO Ghulam Mujtaba.
Other officers on the radar
Interestingly, officers from the rank of constable to SP have also been posted in District Malir on SSP Anwar’s recommendations. The police higher-ups are also are also investigating whether they had any role in helping Anwar in conduct fake encounters, land grabbing and other illegal activities.
Two more SPs– Malir SP Dr Najeeb Ahmed, Gadap SP Iftikhar Lodhi- and about two dozen DSPs, SHOs and head muharars are also on the police’s radar and are likely to be suspended, transferred or arrested.
In-charge of Abbas Town police post Ali Akbar Mallah, who is believed to be the main officer behind the abduction of Naseemullah from a hotel, SI Khair Muhammad (SSP Anwar’s alleged ‘collector’), SI Din Muhammad Mallah and ASI Waqar, who allegedly deals with the illegal ‘reti-bajri’ (construction material) business are also on the radar of the police higher-ups.
The top cops are also looking for SSP Anwar’s ‘encounter specialists’ team. Those being looked for are al-Asif Square police post in-charge Ahsan Marwat, former Shah Latif SHO Amanullah Marwat, Gadap City SHO Khan Zaman, Tariq alias Shankar posted to SSP Malir office, former Site Super Highway SHO Anar Khan, Head Muharir SITE Super Highway Faisal alias Bali. It is believed that these police officers played a role in conducting in every second ‘fake encounter’ with the SSP.
Apart from the criminal activities, the police high ups are also investigating SSP Anwar’s involvement in money laundering and obtaining properties worth millions within the country or outside the country. It is expected that the SSP’s case may be moved to the National Accountability Bureau.
