ISLAMABAD: The National Comm­ission for Human Rights (NCHR) taking notice of the Sahiwal shooting incident has decided to send a team to the scene of incident to investigate the issue.

On Jan 19 — what law enforcers describe as an encounter with terrorists — the Counter Terrorism Depart­ment (CTD) shot dead four people which included a couple, their 13-year-old daughter and the car driver. Video statement of the son of deceased couple triggered a wave of concern across the country as his statement totally contradicted the official version.

According to a statement, the NCHR was once again miserable after learning about the episode of impulsive killings at the hands of CTD of Punjab Police on a highway.

“Such happenings are now becoming rampant, whether it is Naqeebullah or Amal Umar’s case in Karachi. A disciplined force has to restrain itself to ascertain the reality of things before going for its prey,” it stated.

“It is evident that the Punjab police and its related departments are destitute of knowledge about human rights or humanitarian values, it seems that they are neither trained in these areas nor taught human rights as is prevalent in the civilised world,” the statement claimed.

NCHR Chairman retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan had sought a report on the incident and formed a team headed by Ms Fazila Aliani and Chaudary Mohammad Shafique and Ms Kishwer Shaheen as its members to investigate the incident. The team will soon visit the shooting site.

The statement said the Police Act, 1861 was a Draconian law which was deeply instilled in the psyche of police. The 2002 Police Act was not practical and does not have input of persons other than the police. “We now hear of police reform seminars being conducted by the Law Commission but it does not seem to be an open debate, rather a presentation of paper by the police.” Police reforms were necessary and the police should be indoctrinated with the idea of service and friendly attitudes towards people. Let these killings at random stop, it stated.

“We have always proposed establishment of divisional police force instead of such a large number as the police force of Punjab, which is unwieldy and uncontrollable, whether it is to use force or administering Thanas. We hope that the new government would change existing realities and make police force a professional body benign and skilful,” Mr Chowhan said.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2019