Petition against Rao Anwar: SHC seeks arguments on maintainability of petition

Petitioner claims his security withdrawn because he filed the petition

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought arguments on the maintainability of a petition seekign investigations into allegedly fake police encounters conducted by former Malir SSP Rao Anwar.

A two-member bench heard the matter on Wednesday. In the meantime, the petitioner, Advocate Muzammil, approached the court against the withdrawal of his security. He maintained that he had been provided security for taking up cases pertaining to missing persons but after he filed the application against SSP Anwar, his security was withdrawn.

The lawyer claimed that the Ibrahim Hyderi SHO had threatened to withdraw his security if he did not take back his petition against SSP Anwar.



"Do you want security for yourself or do you want a JIT [joint investigation team] to be formed against Rao Anwar?" the SHC asked Advocate Muzammil. Later, the court adjourned the hearing, directing the petitioner to present his arguments on the maintainability of his petition.

In his petition, the petitioner had maintained that SSP Anwar had killed over 250 people in fake police encounters. He demanded that the authorities form a high-level committee to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings committed by the officer.

The petitioner had alleged that the SSP received promotions due to fake encounters. He also questioned why the officer was deployed as the Malir SSP for such a long time. Advocate Muzammil requested investigations against authorities for not taking action against SSP Anwar despite several accusations and complaints involving him.