KARACHI: The first meeting of the joint interrogation team formed under the directions of the Sindh chief minister to investigate the murder of an expatriate student allegedly by personnel of the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) in Defence Housing Authority last month was held at the Central Police Office on Monday.

The JIT meeting was presided over by additional inspector general of CTD Dr Sanaullah Abbasi and attended by DIG South Azad Khan and other representatives of both military and civilian institutions.

Dr Sanaullah Abbasi told Dawn that the DIG South gave a briefing to the victim’s father and his lawyer and asked them if they believed that there was a conspiracy behind the murder of Intizar Ahmed or it was an accidental death. Mr Abbasi said the briefing was confidential and its details could not be shared with the media.

JIT head says briefing confidential, details cannot be shared

He revealed that the JIT had directed the investigation officer of the case to include the expatriate girl in the investigation as the victim’s father had some suspicions about her.

Another session of the JIT would be held on Friday.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, father of the 19-year-old victim, attended it with his lawyer, Asif Khudai, and raised certain reservations. However, the complainant expressed his satisfaction over the new JIT head and hoped that he would get justice.

Intizar Ahmed was allegedly gunned down by nine personnel of the ACLC, including three inspectors, on Jan 13 in the Darakhshan police limits.

Sindh inspector general A.D. Khowaja, taking notice of the reservations expressed by the victim’s father, had directed the CTD to conduct transparent and impartial investigation into the murder.

The probe led by acting DIG CTD retired Capt Pervez Ahmed Chandio termed it cold-blooded murder of the teenager.

Earlier, the DIG CTD had also established a JIT to investigate the murder case, but its proceedings were halted when certain members insisted that it (JIT) was not formed by the home department of Sindh as per rules.

The victim’s father called on the chief minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, at the Chief Minister House on Feb 12 and the CM immediately ordered the formation of the JIT led by the CTD’s Sindh chief.

On Feb 15, the father wrote a letter to the CTD AIG to hold its meeting as he apprehended that evidence and record of the case might get damaged if the matter was delayed further.

On Monday after attending the first JIT meeting, the victim’s father told the media that he had expressed his reservations. However, he added that he had been given “assurances” by the new JIT head that facts of the case would be uncovered. Ishtiaq Ahmed expressed his satisfaction over the JIT head and hoped that he would provide justice to him.

The lawyer told the media that his client was hopeful that real killers of his son would be brought to justice.

The counsel said that Monday’s was an in-camera session, therefore, he would not disclose its proceedings as it might undermine the Intizar murder case.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018