HYDERABAD, Aug 6: Former SSP of Hyderabad Haseeb Afzal Beg has denied that local police had been intimated by a joint team of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC ) and Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) before they raided the hideout of the kidnappers of neurologist Dr Aftab Qureshi.

He was recording his statement on Monday before a judge who is conducting an inquiry into the May 30 botched police encounter that led to killing of Dr Aftab Qureshi.

Additional District and Sessions-II Judge Mr Aijaz Khaskheli has fixed the inquiry for Aug 11 when the SHO of Bhitai Nagar police station would depose before the court. The judge is conducting the inquiry under directives of the Sindh home department.

Beg told the court that at around 5:30am on May 30, he was informed by police control that a police encounter was going on in Bhitai Nagar area. He rushed to the spot and found the SSP of the AVCC, CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy and other police personnel outside a bungalow.

He said he saw the body of ASI Rashid Khan at the entrance of the bungalow and that of accused Akhtar Siyal 500 yards away from there. Dr Qureshi’s body was lying inside a room.

He said that findings revealed that at around 5:18am police control got a call from Ahmed Chinoy who said that he needed assistance from police. The SHO of Bhitai Nagar police station sent two mobiles and went to the spot.

He denied that any intimation was given to him prior to the encounter.

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