SAHIWAL: The Pakpattan additional district and sessions judge directed on Monday the Sahiwal regional police officer and the Pakpattan district police officer to submit a report into the killing of two youths -- Ghulam Muhammad and Safarish Ali -- in an alleged encounter with the Dal Varyam Police (Pakpattan) and Dera Rahim Police (Sahiwal) late on June 1.

The judge passed the order, on a petition by the brother of deceased Ghulam Muhammad, against 15 police officials, including the station house officers (SHOs) of both police stations.

Complainant Ghulam Qadir, of village 73/D, Pakpattan, says both youths were killed in a fake encounter and before that they were taken into custody in a fake case.

Qadir alleged Ghulam with his friend Safarish came to see him in the village on June 1 afternoon and they returned on two motorcycles in the evening.

They were intercepted by villagers of 88/D, Gopay Rain, on suspicion that they were robbers and villagers Haji Arshad, Ali Murtaza and Dr Ali beat them with sticks.

Qadir rushed to the scene but in the meantime, the Dal Varyam police arrived at the scene and took both youths into custody. Qadir made a footage of the police arresting Safarish and Ghulam. The next day, the police killed them in an encounter.

The families of the deceased have yet to collect medical reports of both deceased from the Sahiwal Medical College even after the passage of 10 days.

Pakpattan DPO Naseebullah said he would check the record of the case.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2022