Petition filed over killing of two students in Faisalabad

Applicant demands case against police officials under terrorism charges

LAHORE: A writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry on Friday, demanding that Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar take suo motu notice over the killing of two students in a “fake police encounter” in Faisalabad.

The petitioner also demanded a case be registered against responsible officials under terrorism charges.



The petitioner, Abdullah Malik, said police officials are not only conducting fake encounters, but also implicating innocent people in false cases. He added police officials are killing the innocent people at their police pickets. He mentioned the recent fake encounter in Faisalabad in which two students were shot dead. He said the students, named Zeshan and Arsalan, were gunned down after they did not stop when police officials intercepted them.

He contended that the gory incident occurred on August 8 and the police registered an FIR against the deceased students under robbery charges on the same day. He maintained that the students were morally upstanding citizens.

He submitted that there is a need for the Chef Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar to take suo motu notice of the killing of innocent citizens. He added those responsible for such incidents should be dealt with an iron first.

The petitioner also requested that an order be passed to register an FIR against the culprits under sections related to terrorism for committing such an act. He contended a precedent should be set, through this case, that officials think a hundred times before taking such measures.

Millat Town police allegedly killed two matric students in a fake encounter on Wednesday night. The cops claimed that the students opened fire first after failing to stop at a check post..

After the incident, a five-member committee, consisting of senior officials, was formed to probe the case.



According to the FIR registered against the deceased under sections 186, 324, 365 and 13/20/65, a police team flagged the boys to stop near Kalash Road, but the students tried to escape. The police said the teenagers opened fire on police when followed and were gunned down in the resulting shootout. No policeman suffered even a minor injury during the ‘crossfire'.  Two pistols along and as many empty magazines were seized from the spot, police said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2018.