Rangers killing: ATC court extends remand till 18th June

Case to be transferred to the ATC for formal trial on submission of charge sheet before ATC Administrative Judge.

KARACHI: The Administrative Judge of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi, Justice Maqbool Baqir of the Sindh High Court on Friday sent seven suspects, including six Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) personnel, to jail till June 18, 2011 in the Sarfaraz Shah killing case in Karachi.

Seven suspects, Sub-Inspector Bahaur Rehman, Lance Naik Liaquat Ali, Sepoy Mohammad Tariq, van driver Manthar Ali, Shahid Zafar, Afzal Khan and an employee of the city government's park department, Afsar Khan, were arrested on charge of killing unarmed civilian Sarfaraz inside Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park, Clifton Karachi on June 8, 2011.

Initially, paramilitary force's officials claimed a dacoit was killed in an encounter and lodged a criminal case against him at the Boat Basin police station but later the same day, news TV channels aired video footage of the killing that showed what actually had happened and exposed the paramilitary force’s barbaric act.

It showed uniformed personnel beating an unarmed Sarfaraz, who was begging for mercy. Within seconds, Rangers personnel shot twice at him, who withered in a pool of blood, pleading the personnel to take him to hospital, but took no action resulting in his death.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ), Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took notice of the incident, ordering removal of the IG Police Sindh and DG Pakistan Rangers Sindh within three days or stopping their salaries.

Consequently, a case (FIR 227/2011) under Sections 302 & 34 PPC was lodged against personnel visible in the video footage at the same police station on complaint of the victim's brother Salik Shah, a reporter for a local news TV channel. Later, Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 was also incorporated in FIR.

Suspects were in custody of police since June 10, 2011 and it was further extended by two days on June 15 on request of Investigation Officer, who informed court that investigation was incomplete.

On Friday, DIG Sultan Khawaja, who is heading investigation team, produced suspects amidst tight security and requested for remanding them to jail custody since police didn't need their physical custody any more, as investigation was completed as per directions of apex court.

Special Public Prosecutor Arshad Iqbal Cheema told journalists investigation into case had been completed, therefore, AJ Justice Maqbool Baqir had remanded seven suspects to jail custody for one day.

"Investigation Officer has handed over final charge sheet to me that I will submit in court after scrutinizing all documents," SPP Cheema said, adding under the laws it has to be submitted within days of receiving it from investigating official.

The case will be transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Court for formal trial on submission of charge sheet before ATC Administrative Judge.