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CTD personnel involved in Sahiwal 'encounter' arrested on Punjab CM’s orders
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Saturday ordered the arrest of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel involved in the alleged shootout in Sahiwal where four persons — including a husband, wife and their teenage daughter — were killed while their minor son received bullet wounds, DawnNewsTV reported.
The CTD personnel were taken into custody following the directives issued by the chief minister. He said the CTD officials will be punished if found responsible for the cold-blooded killings.
Buzdar, who left for Sahiwal following the incident, also directed Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat to remain in contact with Sahiwal's deputy commissioner and ensure the provision of best-possible treatment to the injured children at the DHQ hospital.
As conflicting versions of the Sahiwal ‘encounter’ continued to surface on local media followed by the debate on social media platforms, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry aired a video statement to address the issue.
"The prime minister has asked the Punjab chief minister to immediately reach Sahiwal where an incident has taken place in which the CTD officials are claiming that suspected terrorists were killed. However, media reports show something else and statements recorded by injured children reveal a different story," said the information minister.
He said the prime minister has instructed that the true facts be brought forward, based on which an investigation will then be conducted.
"If the CTD version is fabricated, then definitely action will be taken as per the relevant laws and the officials will be made an example of. And if their version is accurate and they [the deceased] were, in fact, terrorists then that too will be brought before the public," Chauhdry concluded.
The CTD had initially claimed that the operation was conducted on the basis of information regarding the presence of suspected terrorists. However, eyewitnesses had told DawnNewsTV that the family members were shot dead in cold blood by the CTD personnel and categorically stated that no weapon was recovered from the vehicle after the alleged shootout.
The Punjab government, through a notification, announced the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the incident.
The three-member team will be headed by Punjab Police Additional Inspector General (AIG) Syed Ijaz Hussain Shah, and shall include an official from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and an official from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The probe team has been asked to submit its report within three days.
Late on Saturday, the chief minister addressed a news conference where he vowed that the people will "see justice unfold". He said that the children, who he said were like "his own children" were now the responsibility of the state.
Buzdar confirmed the constitution of a JIT and assured the people that all those responsible will "get the punishment they deserve". He requested the people to be patient and wait for the results which will be submitted by the JIT within 72 hours.
- — With additional input from Ali Waqar in Lahore.*
Comments (60) Closed
Good decision by Naya Pakistan CM of Punjab.
Let's have some serious actions without empty statements, investigate thoroughly, establish true facts, identify culprits and punish them severely to deter and avoid such disgraceful incidents in the future. Law must prevail for all, no matter who they are or what is their status in society. This is want I along with vast majority of people would like to see.
There should be thorough impartial probe. Don't let it become another Model Town incident. Punish severely those responsible.
Another cold case...look at the history of fake encounters and what the results are...nada zilch zero ...is it ever going to stop ...with his history of fake encounters i seriously doubt it..
Glad to see immediate response to these barbaric killings. Please do not make this political, let’s get justice for the innocent family.
Police will investigate the police. A high Court judge should investigate the cold blooded murder.
DIG and interior minister should accept responsibility and resign.
Why isn’t the CM held responsible for this massacre?
It will happen again and again in Pakistan unless those responsible for merciless killings are given exemplary punishments and that too within 90 days if their crime is proved in the court of law as we await court final decision in Naqeebullah case.
This is very tragic. CTD personnel must face the law and pay for their misdeeds.CM has done the right thing by taking a prompt action.Let us see what GIT comes up with in terms of its finding.
because Model Town encounter was above the law? PTI should have jailed 25% of the entire structure by now and made merit recruitment,yet they continue to use the rotten to stay in power.
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani, Well said. This very tragic happening which has apparently occurred due to mistakingly targeting a wrong party by the CTD, should be thoroughly investigated by a judicial commission to bring out facts in the open.
Justice for innocent lives lost! Heartbreaking... Brutal... Murderous... Rest In Peace.
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
Let the probe complete.
Eye wash. I never say a policeman getting punishment for such cruel action.
This unreasonable and cruel extra judicial killing should not go unpunished where in family comprising of husband wife and minor child were shot dead without affording a chance to explain their position of their alleged offence if there was any. The CDA blind move straight away killing of innocent family can be termed as challanging and undermining of judicial ajustice system in Pakistan.Through out in free and democratic society under the principles of fundamental and natural justice the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in due process of law by an impartial court.
The Justice demands that responsible irrespective of their status and position must be brought to book .
Unjustified killings of innocent family in Sahiwal in broad day light is enough to show lack of rule of law in Punjab and a glaring example of ignoring dignity of human beings and complete disrespect to judicial process as well.
The incident of taking law in their own hands by Counter Terrorist Department is a cause of grave concern for every ordinary citizen.
The event as reported apparantly took place in surreptitious circumstances at the hands of law enforcing agencies which are supposedly hired for public safety and security! CD exceeded their powers and authority and acted in a way beyond scope of their duties conferred upon them under the law. They are liable to accountable for their misdeeds!
The situation requires an immediate investigation on meaningful result oriented TORs to determine factual position thoroughly which are incumbent upon.the govt for taking necessary steps to avoid recurrence of such horrible and unfortunate incidents in future.
Why order arrest of CDT personal who risk their lives to defend Pakistani from terrorist without enquirey? What happened next time if and when they face terrorist again, not shoot back so that they don’t go to jail. Unfortunately politicians makes political decisions first than considereing future consequences? Suspend them until investigation not arrest them, they are not guilty until proven guilty.
Who will take care of those innocent children? Their life is changed forever because of this false flag murder. All those CTD officials who was in this operation should be jailed for life.
Let’s bring their cases under terrorism court.
Remove their uniform, suspend them and lodge FIR for murder against these beasts.
Too little, too late.
There can’t be more clear case of cold blooded murder than this. No prizes for arresting them. Punish them such that no public servant can imagine doing it again.
Nothing will happen, they will get clean chit from Court as Rao Anwar got a clean chit from Judicery..
A heart rendering incident. The nation waits for a strict action against the CTD personnel and fair investigation in the entire process. Well done Mr. Buzdar.
This is not something new in this country.
CTD’s account is hard to believe looking at the pictures of the people involved. If these people weren’t terrorists then CTD should be in major trouble - I mean culprits need the death penalty
Just hope this case doesn’t drag on for months and justice is served quickly
@Khanm, in every police officer Rao Anwar is hiding inside..
Seriously needed to revival and big changes require in Punjab police
Where are your police reforms? Expecting police to fairly investigate their own colleagues? Please set up an independent police complaints authority to investigate all complaints against police.
It is not new in this country. Few days ago a retired FC personl was picked by SHO Ibad wazir ( reletive of serving DIG) he was torchered to death and his dead body was returned to family. These black sheeps are so influentials that after few days the family of bereaved was compelled for reconciliation.
The investigation should be quick and expeditious... Being a Prosecutor I can testify that whenever there is a delay in completing investigation/inquiry there is tempering and fabrication in evidence rendering it useless... There is a reason why Law says invesitgation should be completed within 24 hours... Prosecution should be given disciplinary power over police to bridle this unruly horse
Hope truth will prevail
Dear CM what would you do if it was your family?
The police all over country has gone out of control! Why on road police have to point their guns towards people traveling in the cars!
In a civilised world the head of Punjab police would immediately resign. As it was him who couldn't put a leash on them. So much so for Naya Pakistan.
New laws should be promulgated if needed to discourage such barbaric adventures.
Ya khuda ya khuda justice is dead in Pakistan
@Wazir 1,
Dear Wazir: Well said in pursuit of justice!
Gordon D. Walker Canada
@Afghani, Who are taking care of Naqib Shaheed and thousands other Pukhtuns killed in such circumstances, instead their killer Rao Anwar is a state VIP
This happens only when a Punjabi is killed by police, in Karachi they have license to kill any innocent citizen becasue they are not Punjabi.
JIT is not reliable because it includes people from security agencies tend tend to favor CtD. Judicial inquiry is needed.
Finally this CM will hopefully provide justice!,there was no hope from ex cm shabaz,about the murders at model town! Pakistan will only go forward once these obvious suspects get the harsh justice that they deserved!
Unacceptable situation.
Sign of a police state. This is the agony of the subcontinent. But alas!!
Show their faces. Show the men who killed the family. Let people know who they are.
@IFIMA KHAN, because you and ur friends remain silent and if you know about it makes u accomplice for remaining silent.
Most likely the CTD personel will get suspension on full pay. Then released on bail which will keep getting extended. A JIT will probe for a year. They will recommend the ECL. Then ECL will be released by the court. It will be considered an honest mistake and the matter will be closed after about 3 or 4 years.
nothing is going to happen keeping model town incident in mind.
If the CTD personnel are found to have fabricated this fake encounter, they should be given the death sentence for cold blooded murder.
Capital punishment is too little a punishment.
@Zain Ansari, are you suggesting the CM ordered this , like shahbaz Sharif had ordered the injustice that was carried in the model town massacre.
Hats off to ImranKhan(Prime Minister)’s decission to investigate the mater and those found responsible would be punished severly ( Texas )
When IK became Prime Minister, I thought these cold blooded murders and heinous crimes will not be taken place anymore, but, boy I got a rude awakening. Let these criminals be given such a punishment, that no one in future even dare to think abt doing such a deed.
@Asad, it is just an eyewash and you know it.
CTD officers are out of control and are working without any supervision of judiciary or a civilian authority . Four innocent members of a family have lost their lives without any probable cause. It appears the system has failed to protect its citizens and some bad apples in police force are killing people at will. This authority must be taken away immediately withoit any delay. We must make sure that this kind of incident does not happen again.
worst decision taken just because of unsustainable public pressure, this going get moral down of police personnel's in future. A police personnel never fire until and he is not ordered to fire so arrest the main and only person who ordered, what is in the hand of police constable, gun and waiting for order of higher officials My such statement is being unbiased from any relation of entire sence
Such cold killing will never stop until govt and judiciary set an example of doing justice and justice in time also. There in no point making individual responsible and make them resign, one cannot be everywhere. General public must not loose grip from social media on this case to keep the it moving until justice is done in full. Lastly, this is also a critical time for Punjab govt esp CM Punjab that, now all situation is clear they must ensure quick justice prevails
What's a probe ?
I wish a swift and thorough investigation is carried out and all those responsible or negligent are punished accordingly. No diat please, an eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth punishment, with additional action for misuse of authority if the police is found guilty
CTD intelligent department needs to be properly reeducated.