ISLAMABAD: All the five officials of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) involved in the killing of the 21-year-old youth on Jan 2 have been dismissed from service.

Moreover, two separate requests have been sent to the Interior Ministry and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for constitution of a judicial commission to probe the incident.

The dismissal orders were issued from the office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Islamabad, which is being looked after by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Waqaruddin Syed since 2019.

The orders said the officials while posted to the ATS headquarters were on duty on Jan 2. At about 1am, they chased a white car and opened indiscriminate fire on it, resulting in the death of the driver, Usama Nadeem Satti.

Request sent to interior ministry for constitution of judicial commission to probe incident

“Being part of the police force, it was the prime responsibility of the ATS officials to follow proper strategy/arrangements to stop the suspected vehicle. But they failed to handle the situation in a professional manner and brought a bad name to the department and proved themselves incompetent. A case has also been registered against them under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act along with section 302, 149 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code,” added the orders.”Keeping in view the episode and their unprofessional approach, the SSP reached the conclusion that their attitude towards the official task was unbecoming and their further retention in the disciplined force is not justified.”

Therefore, finding them guilty of gross misconduct, the officials are awarded the major punishment of “dismissal from service” as provided under Punjab Police (E&D) Rules 1975 duly adopted by the capital police.

The date on the orders was mentioned as Jan 3 but these were shared with the media on Jan 8 after Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed condemned the killing of the youth and termed it a big tragedy.The minister was speaking to the media at the National Police Academy.

Replying to a question about the removal of Mohammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan from the post of the inspector general of police (IGP), the minister said the killing of the youth was a very serious issue, adding: “It is a very very serious crime that you took a life of an innocent child.”

When asked if more officers of the capital police would be removed from their positions, the minister said “Inshah Allah.”

He also said the post of the SSP operations lying vacant for two years would be filled.

Meanwhile, a large number of people staged a protest over the killing of Usama Satti at the National Press Club. The protesters chanted slogans against the police and expressed no trust in the judicial inquiry and the joint investigation team.

Later, they marched towards D-Chowk and after reaching Express Chowk staged a sit-in there.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Mohammad Hamzad Shafqaat held talks with the family members of the victim.

The DC announced that all demands of the family have been fulfilled. He said on the demand of the family, the officials involved in the killing have been sacked.Besides, the investigation officer of the case is changed and a request has been sent to the IHC for constitution of a judicial commission.

An official of the capital administration told Dawn that a request had been sent to the interior ministry for the formation of a judicial commission.

The official explained that a judicial inquiry commission is constituted on the direction of the cabinet after being requested by the law ministry. The interior ministry will approach the law ministry to send a request to the government for formulation of the commission.

On the request of the family of the youth, a letter was also issued from the office of the DC requesting the director administration at the chief commissioner office to approach the registrar IHC for constitution of a judicial inquiry, comprising a sitting judge of the high court after seeking direction from the federal government.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2021