Naqeebullah killing case: ATC to frame charges against accused on May 19

The anti-terrorism court (ATC) which is hearing the Naqeebullah Mehsud killing case will frame charges against the accused at the next hearing on May 19. Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old native of Waziristan, was among three others who were accused of terrorism and killed on the orders of Malir SSP Rao Anwar, in what was later termed a 'fake encounter'.
The suspended SSP was also brought to court on Monday in high security, as were the other 12 accused. The investigating officer was also present in the court. Moreover, the victim's family submitted a petition citing their reservations over Anwar's detention in the Multan Lines in Malir Cantt instead of the central prison.
The accused counsels pointed out that the copy of the case is incomplete. The court ordered that complete documents should be submitted to the accused' lawyers.
Arguments pertaining to the provision of B-class jail facilities to Anwar and Anwar's bail plea will be heard in the next hearing. On Saturday, Anwar had filed his bail petition, stating that geo-fencing and joint investigation reports and charge-sheet have contradictory information. The case hearing was adjourned until May 19.
During the case proceedings, the charge-sheet (challan) over the fake encounter was submitted to the court. The challan, which has been filed under the complaint of SP Investigation Abid Qaimkhani, states that the accused killed Naqeeb in a fake encounter. The investigation has proven that the shootout was staged.
The challan states that Anwar and his aide, former DSP Qamar Ahmed Shaikh, have been arrested in the case. The challan includes names of SSP central among 28 other witnesses. While speaking to the media persons after the hearing, investigating officer SSP Dr Rizwan said that those absconding in the case will be arrested soon.
"We have submitted a copy of the FIR to the suspects," he shared. Dr Rizwan remarked that the government has the authority to keep Anwar in a sub-jail. "We have just implemented the government's orders," he added. Higher authorities will take the decision pertaining to change the investigation officer, he said further.
Meanwhile, Suspended SSP Malir Rao Anwar, imprisoned in a case pertaining to the death of Naqeebullah Mehsud in a fake encounter, moved an application in an anti-terrorism court on Monday, contending that he was not present at the crime scene at the time when South Waziristan youngster was killed. The ATC in Karachi resumed hearing of the Naqeeb murder case as Anwar and other accused appeared before it.
It provided copies of the charge-sheet of the case to all arrested accused and issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of absconders. The counsel, representing the victim's family, raised objections on the Sindh government's move to declare Multan Lines in Malir Cantt as a sub-jail to incarcerate the sacked police officer.
He said the act of declaring a barrack in Malir Cantt as a sub-jail for Anwar over a phone call triggers suspicion. There should be a written order thereof, he argued. The lawyer argued that court permission should have also been sought before such move. Meanwhile, the court directed both prosecution and defence sides to present their arguments on bail plea of Anwar on next hearing.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till May 19. In an application, the counsel for the former SSP argued that his client was not present at the spot at the time of the crime. There is only one witness who will testify against him, he said adding that the witness too didn't see Anwar, but claimed to have heard his voice. The lawyer said there is no direct evidence showing his client's involvement in the murder.