Punjab CM orders arrest of CTD officials involved in Sahiwal ‘encounter’

Buzdar rejects initial investigation report furnished by police on the incident

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered the arrest of the Counter-Terrorism Department personnel involved in the Sahiwal “encounter” which claimed the lives of a man, his wife, teenage daughter and a friend.

https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1086638472633425921

The “encounter”, which according to witnesses and survivors involved one-sided shooting by CTD officials, triggered uproar on social media amid calls for the provincial government to step down.

The chief minister also rejected the initial investigation report furnished by the police on the incident.

Earlier, conflicting and shifting claims by CTD created doubts about the tragedy, forcing the government to form a joint investigation team to thoroughly probe into the incident.

وزیراعظم اور وزیر اعلیٰ نے ساہیوال واقعہ کا فوری نوٹس لیا ہے اور سی ٹی ڈی کے اہکاروں کے خلاف ایف آئی آر درج کر کے گرفتار کرنے کا حکم دیا ہے، جے آئی ٹی بھی بنا دی گئی ہے جو تین دن میں ذمہ داروں کا تعین کر کے رپورٹ پیش کرے گی جبکہ وزیراعلیٰ خود بھی ساہیوال پہنچ رہے ہیں۔#PTI pic.twitter.com/aDzR0OAIcH

— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 19, 2019

IGP Punjab Amjad Saleemi constituted JIT soon after Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the incident and ordered an inquiry to unmask the facts.

DIG Zulfiqar Hameed will head the JIT which would also have representation from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).



The JIT will submit its report with three days.

Four people – among them two women – were killed when CTD officials opened fire on a car in the Qadirabad area of Sahiwal district Saturday noon.

The police first identified the victims as “kidnappers” and then as “terrorists from a proscribed group” raising doubts about the “encounter”.

Counter Terrorism Deptt (CTD) opens fire on a car in Sahiwal and kills 4 people while 3 kids miraculously survive. CTD claims those killed were kidnappers. Kids say they were their parents & relatives. Govt pls clarify asap @UsmanAKBuzdar #Punjabpolice #sahiwal #IGpleaseanswer pic.twitter.com/m5COuIpYto

— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) January 19, 2019

The CTD claimed that they signaled an Alto car and a motorcycle to stop near “Sahiwal Toll Plaza” on GT Road, but the occupants did not pull over and instead opened fire.

The police returned the fire and in the ensuing gunfight four people, including two women, were killed by the “firing of their own accomplices”, according to the CTD.

The victims have been identified as Muhammad Khalil, his wife Nabeela, 13-year-old daughter Areeba and a neighbour.

#ExtraJudicialkilling of #Suspects in front of their kids raises many questions about the credibility of CTD. #JudicialIquiry should be initiated immediately to unveil the real facts . #PunjabGovt , Punjab #Police , #CTD should clear confusion as soon as possible
#Sahiwal pic.twitter.com/5SyR8HgplU

— Asad Kharal (@AsadKharal) January 19, 2019

Three children were also recovered from the “trunk of the car”. The children, who were shifted to the DHQ ospital, contradicted the CTD version, saying the fatalities included their parents, elder sister and driver and that they were travelling from Lahore to Buriwala to attend a wedding.

The CTD claimed that they have also recovered “suicide jackets, hand grenades and a rifle from the scene.

Eyewitnesses, however, endorsed the children’s version, saying that the CTD officials opened fire on the car without warning. They added no weapons or explosives were recovered from the occupants.