Investigation into Sahiwal killings will take 30 days, Punjab IG tells LHC

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amjad Javed Saleemi informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday that the provincial police need 30 days to probe into the Sahiwal killings.

The IGP appeared before the high court after he was summoned by the LHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Shamim Ahmed. During the hearing today, the chief justice expressed his displeasure and told the Punjab chief police to warn his officers that the Sahiwal incident should never happen again, local media reported.

Saleemi informed the bench that all the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials involved in the incident were arrested by the police. The chief added that CTD officials, who were involved, have also been suspended.

The LHC then formed a two-member bench to hear the petition on forming a judicial commission. The court has also summoned the Joint Investigation Team head Additional Inspector General Ijaz Hussain Shah with records regarding the killings. The high court then adjourned the hearing till January 28.

JIT head wants more time to submit Sahiwal ‘encounter’ report

In January 19, Khalil, Nabeela, their teenage daughter Areeba and their neighbour Zeeshan were shot by the CTD officials who claimed that they were terrorists. The CTD said that they had signaled the victim’s car to stop, but instead of stopping the occupants of the car started firing, after which the officials retaliated.

Three children of the deceased survived the attack, who have said that the officials fired on them. The childrens’ statements also matched witnesses’ statements who said that the CTD had started shooting first.