Mehsud tribesmen call on PM Abbasi to demand arrest of Naqeebullah's killers

E-Paper | December 05, 2025

A delegation representing the Mehsud tribe called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday to demand the arrest of culprits responsible for the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud, DawnNews reported. The problems faced by tribes in Waziristan also came under discussion.

Protests against the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a South Waziristan resident who was among four killed in what was later found to be staged encounter led by then SSP Malir Rao Anwar, began from Karachi and subsequently culminated into a movement for rights of people of Fata after the authorities were unable to apprehend Anwar.

The premier assured the tribal elders that the matter of Naqeebullah’s murder was not just a provincial matter but it fell under the ambit of state. “All available resources will be used to arrest the killers of Naqeebullah,” Abbasi said.

The federal government will open a college in Waziristan in the name of Naqeebullah, he announced.

The premier lauded the support and sacrifices rendered by tribal people in the ongoing war against terrorism and said that all out efforts will be made to swiftly rehabilitate the internally displaced tribals.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people from the tribal areas have gathered in Islamabad, demanding the arrest of suspended SP Rao Anwar who has been accused of killing 27-year-old aspiring model Naqeebullah Mehsud in a staged 'encounter' in Karachi.

Demands by Islamabad protesters:

Arrests of former SSP Malir Rao Anwar and other police officers involved in Naqeebullah's murder
Removal of landmines from Fata
Recovery of missing persons and their production to courts
End to practice of imposing curfews in Fata after any untoward incident

The protesters had gathered in front of the National Press Club in the capital to demonstrate against the killing. A large banner displayed on a stage set up at the site read, "Justice for Naqeeb Mehsud".

The death of Naqeebullah Mehsud was an extrajudicial killing, the Additional Inspector General of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Dr Sanaullah Abbasi, had told the victim's grieving friends, family and tribesmen gathered on the outskirts of Karachi last month.

Abbasi, who headed a three-member team investigating Naqeebullah's killing in an 'exchange of fire', assured his kin that Naqeebullah had never been involved in terrorism-related activities as alleged earlier, but had been innocent and was in fact killed in a 'fake encounter'.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had taken notice of Mehsud's death following uproar on social media over the alleged staged encounter.

The investigation report led to IG Sindh A. D. Khowaja removing former SSP Malir Anwar from his post on January 20. Anwar is currently in hiding and the Supreme Court, which has taken a suo motu notice of the incident, has given police 10 days to arrest him.

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Carol Lee Murphy

Feb 06, 2018 11:26pm

That the Prime minister is involved demonstrates the importance of the issue,but it seems difficult to me,and i think its going to take time for everything to come out, and crimes can work out that way.

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Ahsan Gul

Feb 07, 2018 01:14am

Again, PM Abbasi our citizens are being educated and demanding justice for all the years for injustices done to them by our government, landlords and influential people. Government officials are being paid by our public's tax and hard work. Don't you guys feel morally and legally obligated to deliver what genuinely public is demanding? Sincerely

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Skkk

Feb 07, 2018 04:51am

The ex SP must be caught and punished and FATA merged with KP on asap basis. Good to see protestors demanding peacefully and, so far, not getting hijacked by inpol/religious parties. Other countries are painting the protests as anti-Pak movement, which is not the case.

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Nadeem

Feb 07, 2018 05:18am

Another Qisas & Diyat in the making. PPP senior at work

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Reviews to ponder.

Feb 07, 2018 05:53am

As JI Chief said these tribes have great lien on Pakistan, the AJK ( Azad Jammu & Kashmir) is due to heroic action in 1948 by these tribes. They have every right to place their demands and grievances and must be listened to.

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Om Prakash Pareek

Feb 07, 2018 06:24am

Trigger happy police officers take pride in fake encounters of innocents. Lately this tendency has been observed not only in Pakistan but many other countries of the sub continent. This is in violation of human rights. Quite often such crimes are committed against vulnerable sections of society e.g. tribals and the poor. All this must stop if we want to live as as a civilized society following principles of justice and rule of law.We should not think of victims as "other" since if we ignore this then tomorrow it may be our turn.

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Khurram

Feb 07, 2018 06:58am

Let’s believe that Rao Anwar has vanished in thin air.

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SHAHID SATTAR

Feb 07, 2018 11:58am

How about the hundreds at least who were killed in a manner similar to the one in this case who were not Mehsud and have no power to force the prime minister to meet them? Do they get some relief, at least by catching their murderers too and punishing them, or their blood goes in vain?

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