Eyewitness contradicts CTD version

Dr Abbas says no resistance was offered by victims, no explosives recovered


Our Correspondent January 22, 2019

LAHORE: An eyewitness to tragic incident of the police killing of four people, including a woman and a child in Sahiwal last week, made shocking revelations on Tuesday that contradicted all the versions of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

During a visit to victims’ family, Dr Nadeem Abbas said that no one on the motorcycle was escorting the vehicle of the victims and no one inside the vehicle showed resistance. No explosives or ammunition but clothes and other valuables used for marriage ceremony were recovered from the vehicle, he added.

Dr Abbas, who said, he was a resident of Okara and travelled to Sahiwal on a regular basis. “Their vehicle was stopped by CTD team 400-500 feet away. No one from the CTD team had taken a position as happened in police encounters,” he said.

“Rather, the police team directly went to the vehicle and started opening indiscriminate firing. No one from the vehicle showed resistance. The team stopped for few minutes and talked to a person in the vehicle and started firing again,” he added.

Sahiwal tragedy: Senators demand audit of CTD encounters

Dr Abbas said that no explosives were recovered from the vehicle but only the items used in marriage ceremonies. He added that everyone around started crying when the children were recovered from the vehicle. Before that everyone was thinking that some criminals were inside the vehicle.

“If the children had not survived and recovered, they [the CTD] would have declared all of them, including children terrorists as they did in case of hundreds of other victims, Dr Abbass said. “If these victims were terrorists. Everyone belonging to Okara and Sahiwal were terrorist.”

Meanwhile, joint investigation team (JIT) Convener Ejaz Hussain Shah also talked to media from Sahiwal. He said that six of CTD officials were in police custody, while the investigators had recorded evidence in the case.

JIT holds CTD responsible for ‘innocent’ family’s killing in Sahiwal ‘operation’

“We have recorded statements of 3-4 eye-witnesses. But the officials could not conclude what actually transpired and who was responsible until and unless scientific and forensic evidence is received,” Shah said, adding that such a big incident could not be investigated within three or four days.

Investigation began on Monday into Saturday’s encounter in Sahiwal. CTD officers claimed Islamic State terrorist Zeeshan Javed was killed when police fired on a car he was travelling in. Three passengers — grocery store owner Muhammad Khalil, his wife and their 12 year-old daughter—were also killed.

Police said Javed fired on officers first and weapons were found in the car. That account has been disputed by witnesses, including Khalil’s other three children, who survived with minor wounds. Police investigators were expected to deliver a report on Wednesday, police said.

COMMENTS (1)

asad | 5 years ago | Reply Punjabis now should feel the pain of mohajirs who from decades being mercilessly killed by these peoples and vedera and partners like Zulfiqar Mirza
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ