Naqeeb murder: fugitive Rao still at large as SC takes up case today

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued notices to federal and provincial law officers as well as the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in a case pertaining to the death of Naqeebullah Mehsud in a 'staged encounter'. Former SSP Malir Rao Anwar, who is facing murder charges for allegedly leading the encounter in which Naqeeb was killed, has gone into hiding as the law enforcement agencies are struggling to find him.
The Naqeeb murder case has been fixed for hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar for Monday (today). Notices have been issued to deputy attorney general, Advocate Generals of the four provinces, the SBP Governor and the secretaries of the interior and information ministries in the case.
The court has also served notices to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general, provincial police chiefs of Punjab, KP, Balochistan and Sindh. At the last hearing, the apex court issued a contempt of court notice to absconding former SSP Malir Rao Anwar over his failure to turn up before it in the case.
It ordered the authorities concerned to freeze the bank accounts and assets of the absconding officer.
The SBP has frozen the bank accounts of fugitive Rao Anwar in compliance with the apex court's order in the case. Anwar was issued a contempt notice for failing to appear before the court despite having been granted protective bail.
The apex court had taken a suo motu notice of the murder of 27-year-old Naqeebullah Mehsud from South Waziristan who was killed in a staged 'encounter' led by Rao Anwar in Karachi on January 13.