RAWALPINDI: Another Sindh police team arrived at Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Tuesday as part of their investigations for the arrest of an absconding police officer, SP Rao Anwar.

The Supreme Court had given a 10-day deadline to the Sindh police to arrest SP Rao.

Sources said two senior police officers of Karachi police — Additional IG Aftab Pathan and SSP South Javeed Akber Riaz — arrived at BBIA from Karachi by a PIA flight in the morning.

Identity of person who issued boarding card to Rao remains a mystery

They met with the chief security officer (CSO) of the Airport Security Force, immigration officials, airport authorities and the station manager of Emirates Airlines.

They remained engaged for more than six hours in collecting information regarding suspended SP Rao Anwar’s failed attempt to leave the country on Jan 23.

SP Rao has been absconding since he was booked in a case pertaining to the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in a fake encounter on the outskirts of Karachi.

On Jan 23, the SP had tried to leave for Dubai via an Emirates Airlines flight (EK-615) when he was stopped by the immigration staff from leaving the country. Later, he left the airport and disappeared.

During their visit to the airport, the two Karachi police officials interviewed the station manager of Emirates Airlines, staff of a private handling agency which had issued the boarding card for SP Rao, and also discussed in detail the matter with the CSO.

Security officials at the airport had already interviewed the private handling agency’s official and it turned out that he did not get the boarding card on behalf of SP Rao. The identity of the person who got the boarding pass for the SP remained shrouded in mystery for security officials.

The sources said that a CCTV camera installed at the briefing desk for passengers of Emirates Airlines was not functioning on that day as it had been lying in a workshop for repair. This had made it very difficult for investigators to identify that individual.

The two-member team also viewed the images of SP Rao when he arrived at the airport in a black vehicle and entered the Rawal departure lounge via the domestic departure fast track lane.

He was carrying a trolley back and was alone when he walked into the departure lounge.

The two-member team pointed out some loopholes, the sources said, adding that the officials would leave for Karachi on Wednesday (today).

Previously, a team of the Sindh police led by SSP Zulfiqar Mehar had already visited the BBIA to collect information regarding SP Rao’s failed attempt to leave the country and help sought from the airport agencies.

A senior police official said that the visit of another Sindh police team was aimed at seeking help from the ASF, FIA and other authorities concerned at the top level to arrest SP Rao.

The visiting team was assured that all sort of help would be extended to them.

The Supreme Court had set a 10-day deadline for Sindh police to arrest the former SSP Malir. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, also directed intelligence agencies and the Federal Investigation Agency to extend full support to the Sindh police for the arrest of SP Rao.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2018