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LHC summons Punjab police chief over fake encounter in Sahiwal
The Lahore High Court on Tuesday summoned Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amjad Javed Saleemi to court while taking up a petition demanding an impartial inquiry into the Sahiwal killings through a judicial commission.
The elite Punjab police had in a fake encounter on Saturday killed four people, including parents Khalil and Nabeela, their teenage daughter, and neighbour Zeeshan, sending shock waves across the country as one of the couple's three surviving children who were witness to the episode denied the official version in a video that went viral on social media.
The Punjab government maintained that Zeeshan had links to Daesh and was "working with terrorists", and that the slain family members were all "collateral damage". Following the incident, a joint investigation team (JIT) was formed to probe the matter, and a first information report was registered against the CTD officials involved in the operation, who were taken into custody on the chief minister's orders.
Lawyer Mian Asif Mahmood had on Monday petitioned the LHC arguing that the JIT formed by the provincial government would not be able to find out the truth and hold the responsible police personnel accountable for their crime.
The petitioner contended that the incident was "a matter of people's lives and the high court holds the authority to investigate". It argued that the government should have created a commission to inquire into the counter, rather "it formed a JIT and did away with its responsibility".
The government does not want a transparent inquiry into the Sahiwal incident, the petitioner claimed, calling for the formation of a judicial commission headed by a sitting judge to look into the matter and accord punishment to those responsible for the deaths.
He pointed out that the statistics of Punjab police revealed that it conducted 247 encounters in 2017, 91 in 2018 and about seven were reported during the first month of 2019.
The petitioner asked the court to direct the prime minister to constitute a judicial commission to hold an impartial inquiry into the incident. He submitted that the Punjab chief minister should also be directed to furnish a copy of a detailed report regarding the incident and other fake encounters and action taken against the police personnel.
He also sought a direction for the provincial police chief to bar his officials from opening fire on fleeing suspects and not equip them with automatic weapons.
The petitioner also pleaded that the provincial government be directed to initiate a compensatory relief package for the victims of the Sahiwal incident and execute the guilty cops within 90 days as had happened in the case of Zainab Amin, a minor who was raped and murdered in Kasur.
LHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Shamim Ahmed commented that only the federal government has the power to form a commission to probe the matter.
The lawyer representing the government told the court that a joint investigation team had been formed to probe the incident already and "the government is taking the matter very seriously".
While accepting the petition for hearing, Justice Khan summoned the IGP Saleemi to court on January 24, ordering him to bring along all of the documents pertaining to the case.
"It is a matter of public interest," the LHC chief justice asserted.
Comments (52) Closed
Who to be appreciated? , it is media excellent Job, some media house, Jow anchor Hamid Mir had brought the actual story of Punjab Police nefarious designs, were habitual to commit such crimes. The media in Pakistan performing excellently job for humanity, the same is under the target of Imran Khan.
Accountability for everyone. Nation should not sleep like it did during Nawaz and Shabaz era. When we sleep we get police like we have in Punjab and Sindh.
JITs are the new joke of town to entertain the populace.
Look at him, 100% unprofessional.
Simply horrible!
IG and CTD staff suspended till decide the inquiry of this cold blood day murder of innocent family. 2) judicial commission headed by a sitting judge to look into the matter and accord punishment to those responsible for the deaths. Those who involve in this encounter must answer and this fake encounter punish, because we did not punish Murtaza Bhutto encounter, Model Town, Irtaz ahmad in clifton, this is going on and on. Need Justice for Sahiwal family. CJ of SC sir take action and give justice to this family.
He should be booked in this murder case.
very good it was needed...
Police will be working overtime to get their story right, there are gaping holes in the story.
Rip police of Pakistan
Judicial commission or parliamentary commission, at the end of the day a JIT will be required to conduct an on ground inquiry. Theres only so much a supervisory commission can do
Too little, too late.
Terminate IG punjab services. Not fit for CSS sevices . Waste of public money on his training .Need reforms in civil service appointments
Right step is his resignation along with the CM resignation. otherwise, there will be no end to such incidents.
Punjab police Chief or who was in charge of CTD should be held responsible
Looking far back to Punjab history 1919 the Jallianwala killing ordered by Colonel Dyer still fresh in historians minds. Later again in 1947 the partition related killings again in Punjab, the storming of Golden Temple in 1984 by men in uniform, the recent Model Town killings, and the most recent the Sahiwal killings. One aspect is common, all these killings were done by uniform professional police or LEA. Hence reforms & correction needed in their ranks and file, long ago there were wide spread disturbances in London, but the police did not act sporadically instead the CCTV of footages were obtained and the culprits later grabbed at night. The reason for so hyper active arrogant police is the VIP culture amongst the politicians, the professional police officers like Rao Anwar spoiled in company of elite politicians who took him along the magnificent bazaars of Dubai, that was enough to illuse their personality that they may do killing at spree. Plz let the police do their work .
All these petitions committees and JITs are delaying justice - there should just be one JIT whose Preliminary findings should be made available within a few days - culprits named and taken into custody. After the detailed findings are published after max 2 weeks - the culprits charged and case sent to court after which justice is swift and decisive
This guy is responsible for brutal Sahiwal massacre. Also book Shahbaz Sharif and Rana sanaullah in model Town Lahore killings.
Missing Justice Saqib Nisar Suo Moto.
He seems to be a comedian , rather than a responsible , educated police officer.
@Stanley Jacob UK, "Look at him, 100% unprofessional."
Is that how you decide about a personality by just looking at a picture? What makes you think you look better?
bribery and barbarity is the symbol of police. .
Send him behind bar, at least his past suggest this.
Exemplary and immediate punishment be given to police officials involved!
A golden chance for new govt. to bring about much needed reforms in police bureaucracy in Pakistan aiming at removing the colonial era mindset of being above law. Punjab & Sind police are known for their brutalies and being experts in fake encountered are totally politicized by the respective past ruling parties.
The country direly needs an uninfluenced good police force & not a vigilante outfit to be used by the politicians to equal scores against their opponents, harass people for monetary benefits, facilitators to land grabbing Mafia, & above all a “Dirty Harry” model trigger happy cops killing innocent citizens in fake encounters & getting away with scathed free showing its nuisance value.
The PTI having tall claims of depoliticizing police force in KPK, must take up this challenge for Punjab where country’s majority lives & suffers due to highhandedness of its Police force. It must, without any hesitation appoint a judicial commission to settle this sizzling issue once for all
The guy looks like a hawaldar. What a sorry state of affairs nepotism and favourism has made him a IG of police. Only possible in the land of pure. What a shame.
PTI seems have PR problem : governance problem and decision making: Easy was : immediate suspend IG : Head of CTD : arrests 16 people : Saqib Nisar heads the inquiry: ECL But to fuel the fire : Info minister put his foot in his mouth : Home minister gave statements: now all these has to go if government needs to run and gain confidence or start to loose credibility
This is what you get when you employ safarishi and incompetent people - you reap what you sow! I am not surprised and, undoubtedly, we have to get rid of black sheep from all our government controled departments, including police and other security services. It is a big challenge for PM Imran Khan and his team to get rid of rotten wood from our backyard.
Government is doing what government is doing. What petitioner is doing just slowing investigation and distract core issue. This need to be investigate. Who is petitioner?
@Masroor,
Is CTD (Counter Terror Department) under IGP ? Looks like, CTD is missing C (Counter), and is now just Terror Department.
what why every time we need Sc for justice .?..i think now time to change law and shows public is important in our society or democracy or country.
@Ghulam Nabi Malik, the credit goes to social media.. cos everyone with a cell phone is a potential journalist with camera .. and their intention is the news and the truth and not the money.. As far as hamid mir .. wonder if you call him journalist cos black mailing is not the part of moral ethics nor the part of journalisn
This is amazing to read that police can shoot to kill people point blank. If those people were suspected for some illegal acts, they should have been arrested and brought to court. What kind of police training those policemen had to shoot people in their car in front of little children. Nothing but shame. Full inquiry should be carried out and if found guilty, those policemen should be severely punished.
Chief of CTD should be sacked and made an example first followed by his foot soldiers. No more foot dragging and delaying tactics.
This guy was removed from duty after Sri Lankan team was shot at and was not to be given any field duty again. Why is he back again and who brought him back is the question? Time and time again these criminals get slap on the wrist and use the revolving door to come back again and show their hideous colours again.
What, he is IGP!!!
Looks like Law of the Jungle is prevailing in Pakistan. Has anybody given a thought as to where is the nation heading?
@Arif Godil,
Arif I agree with you 100%, why such incidents get repeated agian and again is due to the simple fact, you people raise emotional hue and cry for a couple of days then forget all about it. I don't think Imran Khan will will act like Shabaz and Nawaz Sgarif, he will see this case right to the end, ensuring the brutal culprits are brough to actual justice; not fake justice.
@Stanley Jacob UK, Cos he is the IG Punjab, an administrative unit bigger than many countries in the world. How can you effectively manage police with such a centralised management structure? If we had independent police authorities at divisional level, High Court should have summoned head of Police of the Sahiwal division. Where are the police reforms?
From nowhere he looks like an IG...
Looks like a comedian is wearing police uniform, he doesn't have personality to be IG of Punjab - no wonder, you have incompetent and safarishis in police force, who are only there to make money.
Remove this IG.
Don't get a word to start , for every encounter or issue we make a JIT . In my opinion if you make a jit actually you give a time for the folks which is involved.
It's been ages since Punjab has witnessed a worthy IGP like Abbas Khan or Saadatullah Khan.
Looking at the Inspector General's uniform, one wonders what to expect from an organisation which wears 'combat uniform' and use slogans like 'No Fear' written on their shirts. Old traditional uniform represented serving the masses but combat attire changes the mentality to aggression.
This really speaks about Punjab Police.
Constitution of joint investigation team does not give any ordinary person in Pakistan confidence that justice will be done. This is an extreme crime committed by those who should be protecting citizens deserves Judicial inquiry chaired by a supreme court judge.
One should remember this is on top of Rao affair where justice still seems to be failing.
Punjab police monster was created by the previous government and now it's in the hands of PTI, now the monster creator are worried as all that monster cares about is whomever is in power.
Is security agencies can get away with things like this why not police? Rt.
Traffic police are main culprit as how does they allow overloading of People in Match Box Size Alto Car. Second why public is defying Ex CJP advice and continuing going with Large Family. Parents itself can't look their children well
Punjab government should be sacked. Incompetent, corrupt and irresponsible people don't deserve to be making life and death decisions.
The establishment intelligence is responsible for sending incorrect tip to the police. They just followed orders and now they are are in hot water.