KARACHI, Aug 20: The police officer tasked to investigate the Rasool Bux Brohi case has stepped down saying that he is under tremendous pressure to clear the influential police official accused of killing an innocent man under custody in a fake encounter.

The former head of the Lyari Task Force, SP Aslam Khan, was arrested on Aug 9 following Supreme Court directives that an inquiry be initiated into reports indicating that Mr Brohi had been arrested by the police and killed in a cold-blooded shootout on July 12.

SSP Investigation (Zone II) Niaz Ahmed Khoso on Sunday sent a letter to his superiors, including the provincial police chief, saying that he was relinquishing charge of his post.

“I am relinquishing the charge of the said post in protest of undue pressure from different quarters regarding release of accused persons in FIR 101/2006 under Sections 364, 302, 342 of PPC of police station Sakrand, district Nawabshah.”

The investigation officer writes: “It is being placed on the record that I have not been allowed to act as per law; rather there are directives that facts of the case may be distracted and investigation be spoiled”.

Karachi police chief Niaz Ahmad Siddiqui said he had not received the letter.