Daily Times

KARACHI: Shahzad Jahangir, the prime witness in Naqeebullah Mehsud killing case on Monday accused Sindh Police of “forcing” him to testify against former SSP Rao Anwar.

The development came as an anti-terrorism court was hearing the case where police presented 11 suspects, including Anwar, DSP Qamar Ahmed Shaikh, Allahyar, Iqbal and Arshad.

As the hearing went under way, Shahzad Jahangir backtracked form his statement and said he had no knowledge of the extra-judicial killing of Naqeeubullah. “I was posted in Memon Goth on February 10. On February 17, I was called to the SP office. When I went on February 18, I was arrested. My statement was recorded after threatening me,” Jahangir said in the statement. Jahangir had been named as one of the witnesses in the case challan. The investigation officer said that Jahangir was a part of the team, which conducted the operation against Naqeebullah and others.

The witness had testified to Rao Anwar’s presence at the incident site, the IO added.

Jahangir requested the court for security, saying he feared for his life.

Expressing dismay over police’s failure to nab suspects at large, the court issued non-bailable warrants for 11 missing accomplices of Anwar, including SHO Amanullah Marwat and former SHO Shoaib Shooter.

Meanwhile, the counsel for Anwar filed an application requesting transfer to B-class jail from the current C-class in Karachi’s Central Jail. Pointing out that Anwar had not been convicted of a crime, the application sought permission for his transfer to to B-class jail.

Tribal leaders and family of Naqeebullah objected to the VIP protocol being extended to the prime accused. They said Anwar was an accused and should be brought before the court in the manner befitting an ordinary suspect.

Counsel for Naqeebullah also challenged Anwar’s application for B-class jail. Lamenting the decision to declare Malir Cantt Police Station a subj-jail for Rao Anwar, he said that providing relief to Anwar on a single phone call appears to be a fraud. “The court should have passed a written order to permit declaration of a sub-jail for the suspect.”

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court adjourned hearing until May 19 and advised Anwar to present further arguments to make his case for his pleas pertaining to bail and transfer to B-class jail. The court hinted at indicting the suspects in the next hearing.

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 suspects 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.

Speaking to the media, Anwar said whoever had reservations on the charge sheet against him should approach the court with their arguments. He said the arguments against the challan will be made in the next hearing.

Published in Daily Times, May 15^th 2018.