KARACHI: SSP Rao Anwar had been working as SSP Malir for at least six years and is said to have killed around 300 alleged terrorists in ‘encounters’. He is also said to be a close aide of a top leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and had always preferred to remain in Karachi’s District Malir.

During his tenure, the courts have served him many contempt notices for his failure to appear before them. In fact, a few inquiries were also initiated against him, but interestingly nothing could be proved against the SSP.

This is also not the first time that SSP Anwar has been suspended.
The first time that SSP Anwar was suspended was by the Supreme Court in 2013 following the deadly blast at Abbas Town.

Later, he was suspended by former Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah following his controversial press conference against the MQM for misusing his authority.

In that presser, Anwar had demanded that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) be banned following the arrests of two MQM men linked to the India’s spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing. Interestingly, one of the accused – Tahir Lamba – was later released by the court due to lack of evidence.

In September 2016, Anwar was suspended on the Sindh chief minister’s order after he raided the house of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan. The SSP arrested the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly for his alleged links with terrorists. An inquiry was initiated against him. But after a few months, he was reinstated.

Since his appointment in early 1980s in the Sindh police, Anwar has remained a controversial figure and is widely considered as a “PPP man”. He became most controversial when he played a vital role in the Karachi operation against the MQM in the 1990s. During the operation he had killed and arrested several of MQM men, including the notorious Farooq Dada.

The SSP disappeared for several years after the 90s operation and during the tenure of former president General (retd) Musharraf, when MQM was in power.

Many police officials and personnel who played a part in the 90s operation were allegedly killed by the MQM’s militant wing. But after SHO Sarwar commando, he is the only officer who remained alive and continues to serve in the police department.

Anwar re-joined the force in 2008 and was posted as Keamari DSP, shortly after the PPP government came to power in 2008.

After serving few months as Kemari DSP, the PPP led government promoted him to the rank of SP and appointed him as Gadap SP.

Although SSP Anwar was famous as an ‘encounter specialist’ during the 90s operation but after PPP government elected in 2008, there was a change. After being posted as Gadap SP, Anwar was not only killing MQM men in encounters he also started killing militants of the banned outfits, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

SSP Anwar has also faced and survived multiple attacks by militants, as he was one of the main officers of the Karachi police fighting with the Taliban in Karachi and so far killed about 250 militants in the city.

The deadliest attack at him was the 2012 suicide attack which occurred at Malir Halt area of Karachi and the recent ‘suicide attack’ in the Malir Cantt area on January 13.

When Anwar was appointed as SSP Malir in 2011, he had only four police stations of Malir under his command. As the SSP is considered as the most powerful police officer in the history of Sindh police the District Bin Qasim and Gadap were also merged in with District Malir. Anwar, who is also considered to be more powerful than the Sindh IG, now had a total 15 police stations under his command.

It has also been reported that no police official, including the Sindh IG, can appoint or transfer any cop without his permission in the Malir district.

Many believe that Anwar has been a close aide of PPP Co-chairman Azif Ali Zardari. Interestingly, Anwar, during Zardari’s tenure as president, was demoted to his original rank sub-inspector after a Supreme Court order. However, the former president used his executive powers and reinstated Anwar as an SSP following a suicide blast at him in 2012.

Apart from being known for his encounters, Anwar has also been accused of being involved in land grabbing in District Malir and Gadap.

Furthermore, since Allah Dino Khawaja has been appointed as Sindh IGP, multiple attempts were made to remove him from Malir. However each time, the incumbent IG failed to remove him from the post of Malir SSP.

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said on Sunday that he was against police encounters anywhere in the country, adding the trend was not a solution to anything.

“I demand [a complete] ban on such encounters in the country because terrorism can’t be curbed with such policies,” Bilawal said while addressing a news conference in connection with the launch of the party’s membership drive.

At the same time, Bilawal said that former Malir SSP Rao Anwar also has the right to a transparent investigation.

The PPP chairman also ruled out the possibility of delay in the Senate election scheduled for March. “The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will be given another jolt in the upcoming election on half-of-the-seats of the upper house.”

Bilawal urged people, especially youth and women, to fill the membership form and join the ideological force working for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Pakistan.

Elaborating the membership drive, Bilawal said that the membership campaign will be conducted door-to-door, through camps and also by utilisating modern communication technology like the internet and cellular modes.

A website: www.pppmember.com and SMS, will also offer membership options to reach out to the masses, whose massive majority was against extremism and politics of hatred, he added.

The PPP chairman said that the membership drive has been designed to reduce the gap between him and party workers, adding that following the successful completion of the drive he would be able to communicate directly with the workers and the members through the modern communication means.

Bilawal said the PPP launched the BISP in the center and now the Sindh government has started anti-poverty programme at Union Council levels where lending of interest-free loans to the rural poor, especially the women has pulled 600,000 families out of poverty.

He said the 18th Amendment, devolution of powers and NFC Award were also enacted in a bid to discourage extremism and promote democratic and democracy values.

He said, “Under the philosophy of service-oriented politics, we have provided state-of-the-art health facilities including free heart treatment at four Satellite Hospitals of NICVD in Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Larkan and Sehwan Sharif.”

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.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman has said that the armed forces are fully committed to safeguarding the country, said Radio Pakistan.

Delivering a lecture on “Leadership, Education and Society Development” at Rawalpindi Medical University in Rawalpindi, the air chief said Pakistani nation and the armed forces fought the war against terrorists with supreme courage and determination.

He termed the indigenously produced JF-17 Thunder a symbol of national pride. The PAF would continue its journey of indigenization to further improve its defence capabilities, he added.

The PAF has been at the forefront in the war against terrorism.

Last year, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman had said that the Pakistan air force could shoot down any drone which violates the country’s airspace.

Pakistan now has female bike captains as a part of Careem’s women empowerment scheme. These women are Pakistan’s first female bike captains. Riffat Shehraz shines as one of the first few who have taken on this task in Lahore.

These women stand as symbols to the world that women are capable of doing anything they put their mind to.

In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Riffat said that she is glad to have gotten a platform to bring out the best of her passion.
“I have been driving the bike since I was 12 years old and I was passionate about riding the bike,” she said.

Riffat believes that bike riding services aren’t restricted to gender or by gender. “If you are scared, the fear will lead you nowhere. Today, if you are going to be scared, then tomorrow you will not be able to do anything.” She believes that women are capable of achieving a lot more than they are given the opportunity to.

Amid rising tensions on security issues for women and children, Riffat says that she would have never made the effort of visiting places that she does now because of her passengers. She says that this experience also shaped her confidence greatly.

“I am also a female and I also want to take rides at the 11th hour but I know that I have to wake up early and start my day therefore at 10 pm, I take my last ride,” she said of her daily routine. She wakes up at 9 am to initiate her day.

However, Riffat doesn’t have to comply with a set number of rides, “I can take as many as I want to, sometimes I take them till 9 pm and sometimes it’s 10 pm but I don’t want to say no to anyone ever. I try my best to make my passengers happy.”

Riffat believes she is lucky as she didn’t have to face any major issue regarding her passengers. “Everyone respects me,” she said, adding that neither male nor female passengers caused her any hassle.

“I feel, if you respect men, then they respect you in return too, all my rides so far with the males have been very nice and ended on cordial terms,” she narrated.

“I have gone as far as Thokar Niaz Baig, a place I have never visited, so the commuting and distance is not an issue for me at all. It is sometimes from Wapda Town or Model Town that I go to faraway places,” she said.

Riffat is a source of pride with all that she has achieved. She also is a proud part of Careem as that is the platform that encouraged her to pursue this.

In November 2015, the company had announced that they will start hiring female captain drivers.