Inquiry into 20 police encounters finds flaws in six cases

Police file report with ATC administrative judge

KARACHI: Out of 65 cases of suspected fake encounters, only 20 cases have been investigated so far, in six of which police officers were found involved in misusing their powers. This was stated in a report submitted by the police with the anti-terrorism court's (ATC) administrative judge on Wednesday.

The report read that a department action had already been initiated against the police officials for not following the standard operating procedure (SOP) in six cases in which suspects were allegedly shot at after their arrests.

On February 10, the court had ordered Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja to conduct inquiries into 65 cases of alleged staged encounters that took place during the past two months. More than 80 suspects, who were booked under charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery and assaulting law enforcers, had been presented in injured condition before the ATC administrative judge since December 29 last year.



The court in its order had deplored that the suspects were mostly shot in their legs. According to the court, "[it depicted] classic high-handedness of the law enforcement agencies as almost all accused sustained bullet injuries on their legs during night occurrence, as per prosecution stories".

The report read that the Sindh IG had constituted committees to conduct inquiries into the cases. It added that an inquiry committee, headed by West DIG Zulfiqar Larik, recommended departmental action in a case lodged at Preedy police station against the station investigation officer and police party.

Another committee, headed by South DIG Azad Khan, observed that the police mishandled the situation in five cases by not adhering to the SOP and recommended departmental against the police officers. The committee did not find any flaw in three other cases lodged at alFalah police station.



According to the inquiry report, another committee, which was headed by Rapid Response Force DIG Amin Yusufzai, concluded that a case lodged at Korangi Industrial Area police station was found in accordance with law.

Counter-Terrorism Department DIG Amir Farooqui headed another inquiry committee. The committee investigated the encounter case lodged at Landhi police station and arrived at the conclusion that the encounter was real as the suspects were dacoits.

The court is likely to take up the report for hearing this week.