Rao Anwar on UK sanctions list

E-Paper | June 23, 2026

LONDON: Britain on Thursday slapped sanctions on The Gambia’s former president Yahya Jammeh as it widened travel bans and economic sanctions for human rights abuses worldwide.

The former dictator, whose election defeat to Adama Barrow in Dec 2016 forced him to flee, was one of three from the West African nation on an updated list targeting 10 people across the globe.

In Pakistan, Rao Anwar Ahmed Khan, a former Karachi police “encounter specialist” suspected of being behind more than 190 “hits” that led to more than 400 deaths, also faces restrictions.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2020

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Pakistan

Dawn Investigations: Rao Anwar and the killing fields of Karachi

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Zeeshan Naeem

Dec 11, 2020 10:30am

Sovereignty vs International intervention. Blessing in the disguise it is that; foreign countries are now placing sanctions upon the individuals, involved in human right violations, all across the world. Although, for a certain mind set, it is the breach of sovereignty but for others it is the moral responsiblity of international criminal tribunals, international regimes and international organizations to discipline states involved in severe structural violence against their own citizens.

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Sarcastic Fastrack

Dec 11, 2020 11:21am

Another feather in Pakistan's cap.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Dec 11, 2020 11:38am

Rao Anwar is on UK's sanction list. While in Pakistan he is enjoying a luxurious life with VIP protocols. Feel sorry for the families of innocent victims.

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Roma

Dec 11, 2020 12:10pm

This is humiliating to Pakistan. PMIk should slap a total boycott of all British products.

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AZAM AKBAR

Dec 11, 2020 12:32pm

Put Mr. Rao Anwar in jail for good who is murderer of more than 400 innocent people.

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Chrís Dăń

Dec 11, 2020 12:35pm

An over-due action. Now,I am awaiting something to hear about Nawaz Sharif in future who fled his country on pretext of serious illness but through videos is creating a political instability in Pakistan though an established Panama depositor and a convict. He is behaving exactly like Yahya of Gambia.

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Chrís Dăń

Dec 11, 2020 12:37pm

@Roma, Roma this is good for us as we hate Rao for his heinous role to humanity. We are happy . Are you an Indian by the way?

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rafiq

Dec 11, 2020 12:57pm

@Roma, Well meaning but bad advice.

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shib

Dec 11, 2020 01:40pm

@Roma, why...His is a criminal...It is legitimate action...Hope to see same action for economic hit man...like Dar...Nawaz...For developing word...Money laundering is a crime where as in west they take it as their economic activity...

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 11, 2020 01:59pm

As you sow, so shall you reap.

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Dec 11, 2020 02:19pm

If this is true about him being responsible for 400 deaths..... How could he even sleep at night......

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Jjacky

Dec 11, 2020 02:28pm

Time to boycott UK now.

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Someone

Dec 11, 2020 02:32pm

Reasons: Rao Anwar Khan is the former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Malir District, Pakistan. In his role as SSP Malir, Khan was reportedly responsible for numerous staged police encounters in which individuals were killed by police, and was directly involved in over 190 police encounters that resulted in the deaths of over 400 people, including the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud in 2018. Khan is therefore responsible for or complicit in, the serious violations of the right to life.

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M. Saeed

Dec 11, 2020 04:44pm

Now, where is NAB in Rao Anwar case, living much beyond his means?

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Surya Kant

Dec 11, 2020 05:28pm

Rao is very powerful man

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Anand Yesu

Dec 11, 2020 06:12pm

The size of the report says it all.

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Joseph Illinoisan

Dec 11, 2020 08:15pm

UK expected to cooperate in Nawaz Sharif expedited extradition.

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Joseph Illinoisan

Dec 11, 2020 08:23pm

UAE should do the same.

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Babar

Dec 12, 2020 12:25am

Rao Anwar is a murderer. Killing Fields of Karachi should be made into a movie so everone knows about this psychopath killer.

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Nasiroski

Dec 12, 2020 12:42am

190 hits and more than 400 deaths and still this man is not behind bars? Is there any justice left in the system? Britain is taking action and we are sitting idle? It’s asinine!

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Rick

Dec 12, 2020 06:13am

What is humiliating for Pakistan, they guy is a criminal, every country has them.

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Farzana

Dec 12, 2020 09:09am

@Roma, Hey there UK is a civilised nation not Zardari desh where you use policemen as killer.

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Ali

Dec 12, 2020 09:30am

@Anand Yesu, Only a country with a very thin skin and a serious insecurity complex cannot admit to and face up to its mistakes. Even when it comes to individuals, it tries to bury things under the carpet.

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