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JIT holds CTD responsible for ‘innocent’ family’s killing in Sahiwal ‘operation’

JIT holds CTD responsible for ‘innocent’ family’s killing in Sahiwal ‘operation’

Posted on 23 January 2019 by Usama Hashmi - Total hits: 5,029

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to remove the top counterterrorism police officials after a joint investigation team (JIT) blamed them in its preliminary report for the killing of an innocent family in a shady operation at Sahiwal earlier this week.

The JIT was constituted on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan to investigate the killing of a man, named Khalil, his wife Nabeela, daughter Areeba and friend Zeeshan Javed by CTD officials on GT Road in Sahiwal on Saturday.

Khalil’s son Mohammad Umair and two daughters Muniba and Jaziba were also wounded in the “operation” which the CTD claimed was conducted on the basis of intelligence against “terrorists”.
The “operation” set off nationwide outrage after video footage, eyewitnesses and Khalil’s surviving children debunked the CTD narrative.

The JIT, which had representation from the police and civil and military intelligence agencies, submitted its report at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Tuesday.

Attendees at the meeting included provincial Local Government and Community Development Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja as well as the chief secretary, additional chief secretary for interior, and inspector general of police.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Law Minister Basharat Raja said that the JIT, on the basis of its preliminary findings, has blamed the CTD officials for the killing of the family in Sahiwal.

“In view of the JIT report, the government has decided to remove the AIG and DIG CTD from their posts,” he told the media. “The SSP and DSP CTD Sahiwal region have been suspended,” he added.

“The AIG (Operations) has also been removed from his post and directed to report to the federal government,” the minister further said, adding that disciplinary action would also be taken against these officials.

“Five CTD officials involved in the killing have been booked under Section 302 (of Pakistan Penal Code) and they would be tried in an antiterrorism court,” Raja said.

He said the JIT head has sought time for further investigation against Zeeshan Javed who was also killed in the “operation” suggesting that he was linked with terrorists in some way.

The minister promised to give an in-camera briefing to the media on Wednesday to give details that had led to the “operation” which he defended as “based on 100 per cent correct intelligence information”.

He said the media has access to information, so it should at least investigate and find out who had owned the car in which the family was travelling. “At tomorrow’s briefing, you would get answers to this and all other questions you have,” he added.

The minister praised the military and other law enforcement agencies for peace in the country. He credited the CTD with successful fight against terrorists in the province.

Raja claimed that the government has fulfilled its commitment to the people of Punjab by fixing responsibility for the Sahiwal tragedy. “Never before in the history of this province action has been taken in such a case within 72 hours,” he added.

He said the government would do whatever it could to ensure rule of law and establish the state’s writ in the province.

He ruled out a judicial inquiry into the incident as was demanded by the opposition, saying that the JIT has already fixed responsibility and the government has taken action against those responsible.

According to sources, forensic samples, including the bullet shells, collected from the crime scene have been sent to the Punjab forensic science agency. Shells of as many as 42 sub-machineguns (SMGs) bullets fired by CTD officials have been sent for forensic analysis.

However, the SMGs used by the CTD officials have not been handed over for forensic analysis, while bullet shells from a 9mm pistol were sent for examination.

Forensic inspection of the Suzuki Alto car in which the family had been killed has not been completed thus far because either forensic experts would have to travel to Sahiwal or the car would be brought to the lab for this purpose.

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Shahzeb murder case: SHC suggests investigation, prosecution be handed over to army

Shahzeb murder case: SHC suggests investigation, prosecution be handed over to army

Posted on 22 January 2019 by Usama Hashmi - Total hits: 4,625

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the counsels on Monday to continue arguments on January 28 on the appeals filed against the conviction of Shahrukh Jatoi in the Shahzeb Khan murder case. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Nazar Akbar heard the appeals in which the additional prosecutor-general maintained that, according to the medical report, convict Shahrukh Jatoi was over 18 years of age at the time of the offence. The counsel for convict had presented two types of documents; the college and NADRA records, but both were contradictory. Therefore, the medical board report was the prime document in this case to determine Jatoi’s age. He pleaded that the convicts’ appeals should be dismissed.

Advocate Mehmood Alam Rizvi maintained that his client had pardoned the convict, hence there will be no objections if the appal was accepted. The court inquired whether the family of the victim took compensation, to which Rizvi replied that on record they had forgiven in God’s name but he had no clue if any amount was taken off the record.

Justice Akbar questioned where was the father of his client, to which Advocate Rizvi replied that he had died a few months ago. On this, the court asked Advocate Rizvi how he could hold the brief of a client who had died. Advocate Rizvi said that his widow could not be contacted, however, a power of attorney would be submitted on her behalf very soon. The court remarked that it was due to the negligence of the investigation officers that the accused mange to find safe passage while people blamed the court. Justice Akbar remarked that the investigation and prosecution should be handed over to the army. “The army should handle the prosecution system in such conditions.”

In conversation with the petitioner’s counsel Advocate Latif Khosa, Justice Akbar asked him to inform the parliament about the flaws in prosecution and incompetency of the investigation officers. Advocate Khosa maintained that the incident had wrongly been presented as terrorism. He also asked the names of the six witnesses who gave statements. “Three witnesses did not give any statements before the court. The compromise of the parties was rejected due to terrorism clauses,” he said.

The court, directing to continue the arguments, adjourned the hearing till January 28. Jatoi, including two convicts, have been awarded death sentences while life imprisonment has been awarded to two other suspects.
Bone marrow transplant

The SHC issued a show-cause notice on Monday to the health additional secretary in the contempt of court plea against the non-issuance of funds for a bone marrow transplant of 16-year-old Obaid Raza.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the plea in which the court expressed discontentment on the absence of the health additional secretary and directed him to submit a reply by January 28.

The court inquired that why, despite assurances in court, the funds were not released. The provincial government had assured the release of funds for Raza’s treatment. After the assurance from Sindh government, the court had wrapped up the case and had directed the defendants to release funds but despite the orders, the government hasn’t yet released the funds.

The petition filed by Amjad Ali, brother of Raza, said, “My 16-year-old brother is suffering from a dangerous illness. The Sindh government on November 22 had granted approval of Rs4.4 million for the treatment. The amount has not been released despite the approval from the health additional chief secretary.” Ali requested the court to order the immediate release of funds for treatment.
Sindh govt reply sought

The same bench, while hearing a case regarding the lack of paramedical staff and doctors in government hospitals, has directed the Sindh government to submit a report about all the vacant positions till February 4.

The plaintiff’s lawyer said that the Sindh government has not submitted its reply regarding hospitals in Karachi, Thar district, Sukkur and Badin and regarding lack of doctors in Thatta, Larkana, and 11 other districts. The court, directing the Sindh government to submit replies, adjourned the hearing.

The plaintiff Advocate Shahab Astoo said in the petition that there is a lack of doctors that include cardiologists, gynaecologists, child specialists and others. In Sindh, countless doctors and paramedical staff positions are lying vacant. The positions of gynaecologist, pathologist, surgeon, child specialist including other important positions are also vacant since three years. Currently in government hospitals across the province, 2,100 important positions are lying vacant.
May 12 incident

Iqbal Kazmi has filed a petition in the SHC against setting aside the May 12 incident case in which the Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar was charged. The petition filed said that the Karachi mayor was booked in a case at City Court police station. Kazmi maintained that Akhtar had wrapped up the case through his power and influence. Hence, the case should be reopened and directives be issued to initiate proceedings against Akhtar.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2019.

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Army, PAF teams rescue stranded tourists in Nathia Gali

Army, PAF teams rescue stranded tourists in Nathia Gali

Posted on 22 January 2019 by Usama Hashmi - Total hits: 4,188

Rescue teams from the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force, along with members of the civil administration, rescued tourists trapped in Nathia Gali’s Tauheedabad area after heavy snowfall blocked access routes.

An operation was conducted in the wee hours of Monday night and all the stranded tourists were rescued and the tourists were shifted to safe places in Murree and Kalabagh, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

A rescue team each of Pakistan Army and PAF, carrying food and medicines, was sent to the area in order to help the civil administration in carrying out the rescue operation.

The teams that participated in the operation included Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Quick Response Force (QRF) and Rescue 1122, added the military’s media wing.

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Senate committee demands judicial probe into Sahiwal incident

Senate committee demands judicial probe into Sahiwal incident

Posted on 21 January 2019 by Usama Hashmi - Total hits: 4,122

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday demanded a judicial probe into the incident after three family members were shot by police in Sahiwal.

In the incident, described by law enforcers as an encounter with terrorists, an elite department of Punjab police on Saturday killed four people, including parents Khalil and Nabeela, their teenage daughter, and their family friend, Zeeshan, who was driving the car.

The incident sent shock waves across the country as one of the three surviving children, who was a witness to the episode, denied the official version in a video that went viral on social media.

The standing committee called for a judicial commission led by a senior judge to seek answers from the inspector general and the provincial interior secretary.

“Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will be summoned if needed,” said Senator Rehman Malik, the head of the committee.

The committee also agreed that if the militant Islamic State Group is operating in Pakistan, the information should be made public and the agency that identified Zeeshan as a terrorist should also be shared.

In an earlier press conference, the Punjab law minister said counter-terrorism officials were targeting Zeeshan, a friend and neighbour of the deceased Khalil, who the minister said had alleged links with IS.

During the committee’s meeting, Senator Kehda Babar said the police’s hooliganism should not be excused.

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Sahiwal tragedy: Punjab govt terms deaths ‘collateral damage’

Sahiwal tragedy: Punjab govt terms deaths ‘collateral damage’

Posted on 21 January 2019 by Usama Hashmi - Total hits: 5,302

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat on Sunday termed the killings of three members of the same family in a Sahiwal police ‘encounter’ “collateral damage”, saying it came about during law enforcement’s attempt to eliminate a suspected terrorist planning large-scale destruction.

The minister, who was addressing a press conference in Lahore alongside members of the provincial cabinet, said officials of Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab police were targeting Zeeshan, a friend and neighbor of the deceased Khalil, who the minister said had alleged links with Da’esh, a proscribed terrorist organisation. “The CTD officials did not want to hurt Khalil’s family, but unfortunately collateral damage had happened in this incident,” he said.

In the incident, described by law enforcers as an encounter with terrorists, an elite department of Punjab police had on Saturday killed four people, including parents Khalil and Nabeela, their teenage daughter, and their family friend, Zeeshan, who was driving the car. The incident sent shock waves across the country as one of the three surviving children, who were witness to the episode, denied the official version in a video that went viral on social media.

Basharat said that a First Information Report (FIR) had been filed on the complaint of Khalil’s brother, nominating all those law-enforcers involved in the operation. He added that the team involved in the operation had been taken into custody, and its supervisor had been suspended.

He insisted that justice would be ensured at any cost in the tragic incident as a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) led by Additional Inspector General of Police (AGP) Ejaz Shah had been constituted to probe the matter and submits a report in three days.

Furthermore, he said, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had announced Rs20 million in compensation for the family whose three members – husband, wife and their teenaged daughter – were killed during an alleged shootout between Counter-Terrorism Department personnel and suspected terrorists in Sahiwal’s Qadirabad area on Saturday.

He announced that the Punjab government will bear the expenses for the education of the surviving children “till whatever stage they want to study”. The announcement came as the funeral prayers of the four deceased were offered on Sunday evening.

‘INTELLIGENCE-BASED OPERATION’

While the law minister said that the government will act on the findings of the JIT, and that it does not acknowledge any stance of the CTD, he added that the department had information of Zeeshan’s alleged links to Da’esh, a proscribed terrorist organization.

He claimed that this network was responsible for the murder of intelligence officials in Multan, the kidnapping of former premier Yousuf Raza Gillani’s son, Ali Haider, and the murder of two police officials in Faisalabad.

He said the CTD had information that Zeeshan was carrying explosive materials in his car. “Two suicide jackets, eight hand grenades, two pistols and bullets from his car.” However, he added, the exact situation would be unveiled after the JIT report as it had to be established that why fire was opened and what relation Zeeshan had with Khalil.

Basharat revealed that in the murder of the intelligence officials in Multan, a silver Honda City car was used which police and agencies were searching for. On January 13, the Honda City was spotted allegedly carrying terrorists to Sahiwal.

According to the minister, law enforcing agencies (LEAs) had surveillance footage of Punjab Safe Cities Authority’s (PSCA) cameras that showed Zeehsan’s car ‘with cars of terrorist’. In the footage, a silver Honda City could be seen trailing behind a white Alto. The law minister said that after tracing the car, surveillance footage between January 13 and 18 was reviewed and on January 18 it was “verified that Zeeshan was working with terrorists”.

The same day, agency personnel reached Zeeshan’s house and found terrorists present there along with explosive material, Basharat claimed. He said since Zeeshan’s house was located in a congested area, conducting an operation there was not feasible. “It would have endangered many lives, therefore, it was decided to wait for the suspected terrorists to leave in the car,” he continued.

The Sahiwal operation was carried out on the basis of intelligence report; however deaths of Khalil and his family had made it controversial, he added. He pointed out that the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had already taken notice of the incident.

He underlined that the JIT would probe the Sahiwal incident from all angles and the government would implement it recommendations in true letter and spirit. People responsible for this tragedy would be brought to justice. The government would also make the JIT report public, he added.

Basharat disclosed that two of Zeeshan’s accomplices had also been killed in Gujranwala. Following the news of Zeesjhan’s killing, he said, two of his accomplices flew from Lahore and blew themselves up in Gujranwala.

Later, funeral prayers of all the victims of the Sahiwal incident were offered on Ferozpur Road, Chungi Amer Sadhu on Sunday. A large number of people and relatives of the deceased attended the funeral prayer.

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