KARACHI: An antiterrorism court (ATC) on Monday dismissed the bail applications of three police officials in murder case of an aspiring Waziristan model, Naqeebullah Mehsud, and three others in an alleged staged encounter on Jan 3, 2018.

The then Malir SSP Rao Anwar and DSP Qamar Ahmed Shaikh along with around 25 of their subordinates have been charged with kidnapping Naseebullah Mehsud, better known as Naqeebullah Mehsud, and three others for ransom and killing them in a fake encounter by dubbing them as militants linked to the proscribed Daesh and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi outfits.

On Monday, the ATC-II judge pronounced his verdict, which was earlier reserved, on the bail pleas of ASI Ali Akbar, constable Raees and Khizar Hayat. The judge dismissed their bail pleas.

The judge also deferred recording testimonies of two prosecution witnesses — Ali Hazrat and Mohammad Qasim — due to the absence of defence counsel for one of the accused persons.

The court directed the defence counsel for all the accused to ensure their appearance for recording their statements on Aug 29.

Khan Mohammad, father of Naqeebullah Mehsud, had lodged a case against the then SSP Rao Anwar and his subordinates under relevant sections of the law.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2019