KARACHI: Family members, relatives and a large number of people on Sunday staged a protest demonstration in front of the Quaidabad police station and demanded that a murder case be registered against a police team for murdering young Atif Khan in a ‘fake’ encounter.

On July 8, the police claimed to have killed a suspected criminal in an alleged encounter in Quaidabad. Later, a video went viral on social media that showed Atif in the custody of some policemen who later shot him dead.

Malir SSP Kashif Abbasi on Sunday met with the victim’s family as their relatives and political activists continued their protest for the second consecutive day on Sunday.

On the occasion, the victim’s mother said that her son was innocent and if she was not given justice she would have no option but to publicly commit self-immolation.

Viral video shows cops firing at an unarmed youth; Malir SSP assures victim family of justice

A police spokesperson said in a statement said that the Malir SSP assured the victim’s family of his full cooperation and made it clear that no police officer would be allowed to carry out ‘extrajudicial’ acts.

Later, the SSP told the media that the police had already suspended those cops responsible for the alleged encounter. He said that an inquiry had been initiated and the policeman who shot victim Atif was arrested.

Quaidabad SHO Ghulam Husain Pirzada told Dawn that the family had recorded a statement which had been made part of the FIR already registered on July 8 following the alleged encounter.

He said a second FIR in one case could not be lodged as per the directions of the apex court.

He said the investigating officer had been asked to conduct an impartial probe and if the policemen found guilty, they would be formally charged with the murder.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2024