ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: A deputy director of the CDA informed the commission probing the July 29 incident in Sri Saral that police kept firing at fleeing villagers for some half an hour.

Shakeel Ahmed, the CDA officer, also claimed that DSP Malik Mumtaz, who was armed with a Kalashnikov, and a few other policemen kept firing even when the villagers were running for cover.

He however expressed his ignorance as to who had directed the police to open fire on villagers.

CDA director (enforcement) Chaudhry Mohammad Ali in his statement denied the allegations that he too had opened fire during the operation to demolish the Sri Saral village on July 29.

Mr Ali is accused of snatching a pistol from a sub-inspector and firing at villagers causing the death of Abdul Latif.

While being cross-examined by the commission comprising District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ahmed Farooq, he further insisted that he had neither known the deceased, Abdul Latif, nor met him ever.

He contended that interior minister Lt-Gen Moeenuddin Haider had inaugurated the Islamabad’s residential sector of D-12 on August 17.

He said the development work continued at the site till July 24. He informed the commission that he sent Deputy Director Inamur Rahim to hold talks with the villagers so that development work could be resumed. However, he added, the deputy director failed to pacify the villagers who were demanding double the amount they had been paid as compensation and were determined not to allow the CDA to continue the development work at the site.

While being cross-examined, he contended that as far as he knew, the name of Abdul Latif was not there in the list of those who had been compensated or were to be compensated.

He contended that he could not have carried out the firing as he was among those CDA and police personnel who withdrew from the scene when the villagers started throwing stones on them.

The commission asked him: “Do you mean that the stains of blood found on the ground were caused because of the wounds of the CDA and police personnel?” The director (enforcement) replied in the affirmative.

He contended that he was not one of those who had decided to demolish the dwellings of villagers.

He submitted that villagers were not justified in holding the land after being allotted alternative land.

The commission would also record the statements of district administrators including Additional District and Sessions judge Jodat Ayaz who reportedly ordered bulldozing of the village on the day of the incident.