An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday gave investigation officer (IO) of the Naqeebullah Mehsud case the final chance to present a detailed report pertaining to the absconders in the case. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rizwan Ahmad Khan was given an opportunity to submit a report in Thursday’s hearing. During the hearing, all suspects, including former Malir SSP Anwar Rao, accused of the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud appeared before the ATC. IO Rizwan Khan submitted a report to the court on the occasion. The report informed the judge that efforts to arrest the absconding suspects were under way. The report stated that the suspects would be arrested soon. The ATC judge expressed dissatisfaction with the report and rejected it. The court then directed Dr Rizwan to submit a detailed report or present the absconders before the ATC. Following this, the hearing was adjourned till October 31. While talking to the media outside the court, the prime suspect for the case Rao Anwar claimed that a report submitted by IO Rizwan to the high court was fabricated. “The investigation officer is lying. I am living at my residence and I will appear before the court every time I am summoned,” alleged the former Malir SSP. Anwar Majeed further said that he was unaware of any cases initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate assets owned by him. Anwar, along with 11 of his subordinates, is facing trial before the ATC for allegedly killing Naqeebullah Mehsud, a shopkeeper and aspiring model from South Waziristan, and three others in a staged encounter on January 13 in Malir. The former Malir SSP and his team were arrested when protests erupted all over the country against Mehsud’s extrajudicial murder. However, later, an anti-terrorism court of Karachi granted bail to Anwar on grounds that charges against him were not proven. Published in Daily Times, October 12th 2018.