ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered the Punjab government to challenge the Anti-Terrorism Court’s (ATC) decision and probe the ‘faulty’ prosecution that led to the acquittal of suspects in the Sahiwal firing incident in which some personnel of the Punjab Police’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had allegedly gunned down four people, among them three from the same family.

According to a tweet posted by Special Assistant to the PM on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, “Prime Minister Imran Khan has instructed the Punjab government of filing of appeal against the decision of special court passed in Sahiwal incident and ordered probe the weaknesses and loopholes in the prosecution case.”

The government is determined to provide justice to the innocent children and in case the family will not petition, the state will become complainant in the case, the tweet read.

It may be recalled that after the tragic incident, several ministers and lawmakers of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, including Murad Saeed, Shehryar Khan Afridi and Amir Liaquat Hussain, had on the floor of the National Assembly promised justice to the victim family.

Punjab govt forms inquiry commission to review the entire case proceedings

On Thursday, the ATC acquitted all six personnel of the CTD who were accused of killing the four people, including a woman and a minor, in Sahiwal. Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta gave the accused personnel the benefit of the doubt.

The verdict was delivered after recording statements of 49 witnesses, including the brother of one of the victims. The accused — Safdar Hussain, Ahsan Khan, Ramzan, Saifullah, Hasnain and Nasir Nawaz — had shot dead Khalil and his wife Nabeela, their daughter Areeba, and another man named Zeeshan on Jan 19 this year.

Khalil, his wife and their four children were travelling with Zeeshan when the CTD personnel stopped them near Sahiwal Toll Plaza on GT Road and opened fire. Later, they claimed that they were targeting suspected terrorists.

Following the directive of Prime Minister Khan, the Punjab government on Friday announced filing an appeal against the ATC verdict.

Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja said the provincial government would appeal the court verdict, adding that instructions had been given to the advocate general in this regard.

Speaking at a news conference in Lahore on Friday, Mr Raja said the chief minister had constituted an inquiry commission that would take a detailed review of all that had led the Sahiwal tragedy victims to face hurdles. He said the commission would identify weaknesses in prosecution and investigation within a specific period.

“The government is very concerned on the murder of innocent people,” he said and held out the assurance that the Punjab government would fulfil all requirements of justice.

The law minister said that expression of satisfaction by the grieving family over the acquittals had left a question mark over the issue.

“The heirs can be satisfied with the ATC decision but the government is not satisfied and it will make every effort to punish those responsible,” he asserted.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2019