FAISALABAD: The district police added Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act to the first information report (FIR) of the killing of a man allegedly by the Punjab Highway Patrol in Chak 258-RB, Pharala on Wednesday night.

The family of Waqas Ahmed had announced a press conference on Saturday to press the police for inclusion of the ATA section, as they were not satisfied with the FIR, however it was postponed.

On Saturday night, police officials told the media that a high-level committee comprising senior officers under the senior superintendent of police (investigation) had met Ahmed’s family and, on behalf of the Punjab inspector general of police, assured them of justice. It informed them that Section 7 of ATA had been added to the case.

The family was also asked to nominate any inspector from Faisalabad district as the investigating officer and they could also choose to have the investigation conducted out of Faisalabad region.

City Police Officer Sohail Chaudhry said the committee also told the family that their legal demands would be met to ensure justice. He said the applicant showed full satisfaction over the committee members.

The committee has been authorised to seek assistance from the legal deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in the investigation process, the Crimes Investigation Agency DSP in human intelligence and Cellular Detection Unit trainee assistant sub-inspector will provide technical and scientific support.

Before meeting with the committee, Ahmed’s family and other villagers had gathered in Chak 258-RB to protest against the police for not adding 7-ATA to the case. The family alleged that scores of villagers had seen policemen firing in the air to create panic, but the terrorism section was not added to the case.

However, the committee members met with them and assured them of justice over which the press conference and protest were postponed, a family member said.

The suspect policemen were in the custody of Dijkot police on physical remand. During initial inquiry, it was revealed that neither a weapon had been recovered from the vehicle nor were there any signs of retaliation from the car occupants.

The victim’s brother, Sarfraz Ahmed, alleged that police had fled from the spot with the car and body of Waqas who had died on the spot.

He said a suspect, Assistant Sub-Inspector Shahid Manzoor, used abusive language when a tyre of the car brushed his feet near Chicha Stop where police had signalled them to stop. Ahmed had sped away when the policemen threatened them.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2021