SSP Kakar murder case still in limbo

Officials unable to ascertain whether death was murder or suicide

ISLAMABAD: The mystery of a senior police officer’s death on May 16 has not been solved so far, rather it has become more complex after forensic experts established murder as the cause of death.

SSP of district Jaffarabad, Jahanzaib Khan Kakar, was found dead in his office with blood-stained uniform and a bullet hole in his temple.

The forensic team, based on its findings, provided the authorities proof to register a criminal case against unidentified culprits for killing the police officer, but no to no avail.

"No FIR has been registered so far,"  the district’s acting SSP, Muhammad Saleem Lehri told The Express Tribune.   



According to the initial police report, the SSP had committed suicide with his own pistol.

However, Kakar's family denounced the report, alleging Kakar was murdered by some 'influential people'. They demanded the registration of a criminal case for the murder of the 'slain' SSP.

Younger brother of the SSP, Dr Aalam Zaib Khan Kakar had told The Express Tribune his brother was receiving threats from unidentified persons after arresting "members of some influential families".

However, contrary to police claim, forensic expert Dr Noor Baloch, who conducted the second autopsy on Kakar's body in the Civil Hospital, Quetta, established murder as the cause of death.

His report rejected the police claim of a suicide, as well as the first autopsy report by the doctors at Dera Allah Yar government hospital.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Baloch said, "There is more than sufficient evidence to establish Kakar was murdered. It was not a suicide at all."

The police claim is based on the first postmortem report, prepared by Dr Ashfaq at the District Headquarter Hospital of Dera Allah Yar (district Jaffarabad) who performed the autopsy within few hours of the SSP's death.

Dr Ashfaq, while recording his opinion, said his death was caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the temple of the deceased.



Dr Baloch, however, said the first report was only based on body's external examination.

When questioned why internal examination was not conducted during the first post-mortem, Dr Baloch said the police officials who brought the body to DHQ Dera Allah Yar asked for an external examination only.

"Perhaps, the doctors were under pressure to declare the death as suicide," he said.

Withdrawal

Meanwhile, doctors at DHQ Dera Allah Yar expressed willingness to withdraw their post-mortem report.

Senior officials of the health department told The Express Tribune the medical superintendent had decided to withdraw his hospital’s post-mortem report after the findings of the second autopsy report.

Intelligence agencies also supported the second Medico Legal Certificate and suspect an "insider" involvement in the SSP's murder.



Meanwhile, inquiry report by the DIG was not submitted until the filing of this report.

Sharjeel Kharal was appointed as the inquiry officer by the IG Balochistan to ascertain the cause of Kakar's death.

Political parties demand inquiry

The unusual delay in submission of inquiry report and police refusal to register an FIR has prompted political parties in Quetta to demand an inquiry by a judicial commission.

"The government should constitute a judicial commission headed by a Balochistan High Court judge to conduct the inquiry," said Asghar Khan Achakzai, the provincial president of Awami National Party in a public statement.

Senator Rozi Khan Kakar of the PPP has also asked the provincial government for a high-level and impartial inquiry.