Daily Times

The Joint Investigation Team has prepared a final report on the Sahiwal killings in which three members of a family were killed in an extra judicial conduct. The tragic incident received nationwide concern and criticism on law enforcement.

On January 19, four people were killed in an alleged shootout in Sahiwal, with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel claiming they had killed a local commander of militant organisation Daesh and three others in the operation. Eyewitnesses, however, disputed the claim and said the people in the car did not fire at officials, nor were any explosives recovered from the vehicle. In the report, it was maintained that the slain family members were innocent and they were wrongly murdered.

The report also recommended strict action against the CTD officials who made changes in the record. The under custody officials have been sent to prison on a 14-day judicial remand. The report will be presented to the Punjab government soon.

On the other hand, the family of Khalil has rejected the report of the joint investigation team (JIT) that declared his slain family members ‘innocent.’ Jalil, brother of Khalil, said he had never given any such statement claiming that Zeeshan had contacts with the terrorists. The JIT report is based on incorrect information, he added. The lawyer of Jalil said principally the copy of the report should have first been given to brother of Zeeshan, who is accused of sheltering terrorists of banned outfit. Zeeshan was driving a vehicle carrying family when Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel sprayed them with bullets on Jan 19, calling them terrorists. The counsel said Zeeshan had been declared terrorist before an investigation. He said the case was being manipulated to protect top officials. He demanded that a judicial commission be formed to probe the incident thoroughly.

Jalil said his family didn’t accept the JIT report and reiterated his demand to form a judicial commission for inquiry.

Published in Daily Times, February 22^nd 2019.