Justice for victims: PTI decides to compile data of police encounters

Experts say move aims to mount pressure on Sharif brothers ahead of general elections

LAHORE: Following arrest of former police inspector Abid Boxer and suo motu notice of extrajudicial police encounters by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to compile data of all police encounters in Punjab.

While speaking to The Express Tribune on Monday, former PTI central spokesperson Shafqat Mahmood said the party was gathering available data of all police encounters conducted in the province during recent years. “Once this data is available, the PTI may approach the court to seek justice for families of the victims,” he added.

He remarked, “Extrajudicial killings cannot be tolerated anywhere in the world and the same rule should be applied here.”

Former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Secretary Aftab Bajwa, who is counsel in the famous Sabzazar police encounter and rape and murder case of Zainab Ansari, told The Express Tribune that PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry approached him over phone to inquire information related to various extrajudicial police encounters. “I have provided him information related to Sabzazar case, Zainab murder case and Mudasar police encounter,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, political experts pointed out earlier that all opposition parties tried to increase pressure on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif by staging protest demonstration on the Mall Road to seek justice for families of the victims of Model Town massacre. Though, most people support the cause of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to seek justice for victims’ families but the public is reluctant to give their confidence to opposition parties, they said.

The experts maintained poor show of around 40 political and religious parties on the Mall Road last month is the most recent example of their failure.

Now, ahead of general elections in the country, they believe, pressure will mount on Sharif brothers through courts as opposition parties, especially the PTI, are considering moving the court over extrajudicial killings in Punjab. They believe arrest of former police encounter specialist Abid Boxer, who was on the run for the past 11 years for his alleged involvement in extrajudicial police encounters and connections with criminals is continuation of the same scheme to counter the PML-N in upcoming general elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2018.