Naimat Khan
KARACHI: Representatives of State Bank of Pakistan and Airport Security Force appeared before Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and shared details regarding Rao Anwar’s bank accounts in the chamber during in camera session.
Later, Inspector General of Police Allah Dino Khowaja appeared before the court and informed that two CCTV footage obtained by police were low quality and he has requested for more footages.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar heard the Naqeebullah killing case at the Karachi registry here on Friday. Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old native of Waziristan, was among three others who were accused of terrorism and killed on January 13 on the orders of Malir SSP Rao Anwar, in what was later determined to be a fake encounter.
Appearing before the court, Sindh Inspector General of Police AD Khawaja asked for more time to trace Anwar, who has been absconding in the case.
After the chief justice asked how much time the Sindh Police requires, Khawaja claimed that substantial progress will be made in the next two to three days. Chief Justice Nisar then directed Khawaja to submit a progress report in court at the next hearing on Monday, which will be held in Islamabad.
Speaking to the media, Khawaja said he has not found any evidence to suggest that Anwar has left the country.
The Sindh IG said he has asked the court for more time to arrest Anwar, adding that whatever Anwar is doing is wrong and he should appear in court now.
Addressing the media outside the court, Naqeebulah’s father expressed complete satisfaction with the court proceedings. Naqeeb’s father Mohammad Khan again rejected rumors of any backdoor deal with Anwar and reiterated his confidence in the courts. “We will continue to appear in court until Rao Anwar is arrested,” he said.
At the last hearing of the case on Wednesday in Islamabad, the Supreme Court revealed that Anwar, who has been absconding in the case, has reportedly sent another letter seeking to unfreeze his bank accounts.
In January, Naqeebullah, who hailed from South Waziristan, was killed along with three other suspects in an ‘encounter’ with a police team headed by SSP Anwar in the Usman Khaskheli Goth on the outskirts of Karachi. When questioned, Anwar had claimed that the deceased was a Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant. However, Rao has been on the run since the probe team, in its report, concluded that Naqeebullah’s murder was extrajudicial and that the victim had no links to the terrorist organisation. A statement reportedly issued by a spokesperson of TTP’s South Waziristan chapter had termed Anwar’s claim as “baseless”, clarifying that Naqeebullah had no links with the banned militant outfit.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has directed to fix the case SMC No.04/2018 on 17-03-2018(Today) at Supreme Court Branch Registry, Karachi, regarding advertisements, if any, given with Pictures of Political Party Leaders for their projection by the Government of Sindh in the print and electronic media.
Notices have been issued to Advocate General Sindh and Secretary Information Department, Government of Sindh, to apprise the Court about all the expenses incurred on such advertisements during last three months.
The case with regard to such advertisement by Federal and all the Provincial Government was lastly fixed three days back (on 13-03-2018) at Principal Seat at Islamabad.
