Senate committee recommends inquiry of police encounters in last five years

Naimat Khan

KARACHI: A senate Committee on the human Rights on Wednesday, while urging “to bring law enforcement agencies under the law, recommended that police encounters, which had occurred during the last five years, should be investigated.

A meeting of the Senate’s functional committee on the human rights was held with Senator Nasreen Jalil of the MQM in chair. The meeting was attended by CM Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh’s Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and Inspector General of Police Sindh AD Khowaja. Members of the Jirga also appeared before the committee and recorded their statements. On the outset of committee proceedings, AD Khowaja briefed the meeting about the Naqeebullah Murder Case and lack of arrest of Rao Anwar.

The committee expressed serious reservations over the non-arrest of Rao Anwar and other absconding police officers who have killed innocent people. The committee also expressed its annoyance over the picking up of citizens by men plainclothes in vehicles without government number plates.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal told the court that the government is playing its due role to arrest Rao Anwar. “The Sindh Government doesn’t do patronage of any criminals, including Rao Anwar,” he informed the committee.

The Sindh Home Minister Further told that the formation of JIT in Rao Anwar case can also be not ruled out.

Talking to media after the meeting Chairperson functional committee, Nasreen Jalil, told that Rao Anwar is still missing and it seems that some influential people have given him shelter. She said that Jirga presented its demands which were accepted by the committee. She said that the federal government should form a judicial commission on the issue of Naqeebullah.

The senate committee told that illegal business of sands should be stopped.  Ms Jalil said that the committee has recommended investigating police encounters that have happened since 2015. She said that the police will have to eliminate the criminal gangs working within police force. “Innocent youths have been killed and some put behind the bars,” she said before departing for participating in Jirga.

Earlier, expressing grave concern over the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud, the committee in its meeting held in Islamabad had said the incident was not an isolated one; as such fake encounters were norm in the port city of Karachi.

Head of the Senate panel said the committee members apart from holding meeting on the Naqeebullah murder case would also visit the Kot Lakpat Jail and Mardan.