Sahiwal JIT says CTD tampered with evidence

Report says neither driver of car nor any motorcyclist fired at police team

LAHORE: The joint investigation team (JIT), probing into the January 19 Sahiwal incident, has revealed that no motorcyclists had attacked the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials, who after killing the passengers of the fateful car, also tampered with evidence.

The JIT report, available with The Express Tribune, also recommends action against the CTD Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jawwad Qamar and Regional Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Asif Kamal for their ‘negligence’ that resulted in tampering of evidence.



The report reiterates that three members of a family – Khalil, his wife Nabila and a daughter – were innocent, but claims that the driver, Zeeshan, was an alleged terrorist working for the ultraorthodox terrorist group Islamic State (IS) or Da’ish.

It says that contrary to the CTD’s claims, no shots were fired by any motorcyclist or Zeeshan at the CTD personnel who were following the car. Sub-inspector Safdar Hussain and the CTD personnel participating in the operation tampered with the weapons used in the crime, DVRs and other evidence.

According to the report, the CTD team opened fire at the car from behind due to which the car collided with a road divider and stopped. After the operation, the CTD team reached police lines at around 1:45pm, but arrived at the regional office at around 3pm. They tampered with the evidence during this one hour.

The forensic report says Zeeshan was an IS man and was in contact with IS Punjab commander Khalid Ilyas alias Butt Sahib, who operates the network from Afghanistan.

Zeeshan’s car was actually the property of Adeel Hafeez, an alleged terrorist. There was also a picture of Zeeshan with another alleged terrorist Haroon Usama taken on November 4, 2018. According to the report, Zeeshan was an active member of this network and used to facilitate all the terrorists.



The report suggests that Zeeshan’s family members — his mother, brother and widow — were aware of his suspicious activities. The JIT also calls Zeeshan’s brother Ehtisham a suspicious character.

It claims that Zeeshan and his friends on January 13 also transferred explosive material in a Honda City to Sahiwal and Zeeshan was driving the car.  The CTD also traced the IS and groups affiliated with it and their activities.

It says Khalid was operating the group which included Shahid Jabbar, Adeel Hafeez, Muhammad Kashif, Rizwan and Abdul Rehman as active members. The terrorists used latest technology Telegram and Threema for communication. The report says the CTD officials who carried out the January 19 operation included Safdar Hussain, Ahsan, Saifullah, Hussain Akbar, Ramzan and Nasir.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2019.