Daily Times

An anti-terrorism court (ATC), on Wednesday, resumed hearing the bail plea of Malir’s former SSP, Rao Anwar in the Naqeebullah murder case.

Rao Anwar and eleven of his subordinates are facing trial before the ATC for killing Naqeebullah Mehsud and three others in an alleged staged encounter on January 13 in Malir.

Rao Anwar along with the other accused appeared before the court for the hearing of his bail plea today.

During the hearing, Anwar’s counsel, Amir Mansoob Qureshi, argued that Rao Anwar was not present at the crime scene.

“The victims were shot from inside a room and from the back. How come they were not shot from the front during the encounter?” the court then asked the counsel.

However, the former SSP Malir’s counsel said, “Anwar was neither involved in catching Naqeebullah nor in the encounter.”

Qureshi concluded his arguments after three hours following which the petitioner’s counsel, Salahuddin Panhwar, began presenting his arguments before the ATC.

The hearing was later adjourned.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, Anwar said that he was satisfied with the court proceedings and waiting for the next step on his bail plea.

On June 14, the court had adjourned the hearing on the former Anwar’s bail plea till July 4 (Wednesday).

In the last hearing, Anwar had denied involvement in Naqeebullah’s murder and said that he would be proven innocent in the case.

The former SSP claimed that record was available that proved that he neither caught Naqeebullah nor killed him. “I have been nominated in the wrong case,” Rao claimed, adding that the case against him was taken up due to professional jealousy.

Published in Daily Times, July 5^th 2018.