Police seek public assistance on social media to arrest Rao Anwar, his team

Former Malir SSP and 10 other police officials are wanted in Naqeebullah murder case

KARACHI: The police have sought help from citizens through social media after their failure to trace and arrest former Malir SSP Rao Anwar and some of his team members in connection with the killing of a South Waziristan youngster, Naseemullah Mehsud alias Naqeebullah, in a fake encounter.

“Yes, we are seeking the help of citizens in tracing and arresting SSP Anwar and his team members,” confirmed Additional IG Aftab Pathan, who is heading the investigation team.

“We are using social media for that purpose as it could prove fruitful for us.”

Naqeebullah, 27, was killed along with three others by SSP Anwar and his team on January 13 in Shah Latif Town. SSP Anwar alleged that Naqeebullah was a militant who was killed in an encounter.



However, when an inquiry committee headed by Counter-Terrorism Department Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi declared the encounter fake, a murder case was registered against SSP Anwar and his team for killing an innocent person.

Since then, SSP Anwar and some of his team members went into hiding. However, some police officials who are believed to be facilitators in the killing were arrested by the police.

“SSP Anwar’s team comprised 21 members including him. Ten of them have so far been arrested while the remaining 11 have yet to be arrested. We have launched a social media campaign for their arrests,” said AIG Pathan.

“Definitely, SSP Anwar and his team members are in Pakistan and it might be possible that some citizens have seen them.”



The former Malir SSP and his absconding team members have been declared by the police as ‘wanted’.  “We have prepared profiles of some of the absconding officials including SSP Anwar and shared them on social media,” AIG Pathan said, adding that the profiles of the remaining absconders would also be shared.

“Sharing the pictures [of SSP Anwar’s team members] on social media will let people recognise them and they might help us nab the suspects,” the officer said.

In addition to SSP Anwar, former Shah Latif SHO Amanullah Marwat, former Sohrab Goth SHO Shoaib Shooter and former SITE Super Highway SHO Anar Khan Tarar are among the ‘wanted’.