In the aftermath
Our collective conscience should now investigate human rights violations
The tragedy of Sahiwal deserves much ado and probably more than it has received thus far. As new information is released, the details make the story more enigmatic than when we first learned of the incident.
Initially, our collective conscience led us to criticise the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) upon hearing the news of negligence on its part and the complete lack of restraint in spontaneously murdering an innocent family, right in front of the eyes of young children.
Then, the situation momentarily became murkier as we awaited the Joint Investigation Team’s report. Three of the four people murdered — a mother, father, and their young teenage daughter — belonged to one family.
The fourth person, the driver of the vehicle named Zeeshan, remained suspicious with reports stating he was a family friend. But according to the JIT report, Zeeshan was a suspected IS terrorist and part of a larger operating network.
It is hereby admitted that the Punjab CTD worked proactively in tracking the suspected terrorist. However, the manner in which the CTD carried out the shooting begs questions.
Our collective conscience should now investigate human rights violations and at what point we draw the line in the quest to take out known terrorists and capture suspected ones. The CTD’s target was Zeeshan.
To act responsibly would have been to disable the car and arrest the suspects. It would have been more fruitful to bring in the man for questioning to root out the network but that option was negated when the CTD opened fire, allegedly with no such resistance coming from the other side.
The surviving family of those killed were recently shuttled to Islamabad by the police only to find out they were not scheduled to meet the president. What purpose that would have served is vague, except to work out compensation details and receive condolences, but it was humiliating nonetheless.
Police reforms are in order. While counterterrorism forces deserve to work with some impunity to weed out the intricate network of extremism and terrorism in even remote areas of the country, their privileges should be clearly outlined. Negligence and abuse of power are unacceptable.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2019.
Initially, our collective conscience led us to criticise the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) upon hearing the news of negligence on its part and the complete lack of restraint in spontaneously murdering an innocent family, right in front of the eyes of young children.
Then, the situation momentarily became murkier as we awaited the Joint Investigation Team’s report. Three of the four people murdered — a mother, father, and their young teenage daughter — belonged to one family.
The fourth person, the driver of the vehicle named Zeeshan, remained suspicious with reports stating he was a family friend. But according to the JIT report, Zeeshan was a suspected IS terrorist and part of a larger operating network.
It is hereby admitted that the Punjab CTD worked proactively in tracking the suspected terrorist. However, the manner in which the CTD carried out the shooting begs questions.
Our collective conscience should now investigate human rights violations and at what point we draw the line in the quest to take out known terrorists and capture suspected ones. The CTD’s target was Zeeshan.
To act responsibly would have been to disable the car and arrest the suspects. It would have been more fruitful to bring in the man for questioning to root out the network but that option was negated when the CTD opened fire, allegedly with no such resistance coming from the other side.
The surviving family of those killed were recently shuttled to Islamabad by the police only to find out they were not scheduled to meet the president. What purpose that would have served is vague, except to work out compensation details and receive condolences, but it was humiliating nonetheless.
Police reforms are in order. While counterterrorism forces deserve to work with some impunity to weed out the intricate network of extremism and terrorism in even remote areas of the country, their privileges should be clearly outlined. Negligence and abuse of power are unacceptable.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2019.