‘Encounter’: ‘Interim challan soon to prevent disclosures’

Court sends DSP, three other officers to jail for 14 days.

LAHORE:

The investigation team is likely to submit an interim challan before the court against the four police officials declared guilty by the inquiry officer of faking a fatal shootout, The Express Tribune has learnt.

A source close to the investigation that only spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the interim challan was being submitted to preclude further investigation as these may reveal the names of influential officials who remained in contact with the investigation in-charge and the Nishtar Town SHO during the ‘encounter’.

Major (retd) Mubasharullah, the inquiry officer, recommended that SHO Naved Akmal, investigation in-charge Zulfiqar Vario and four other police officials be investigated, the source said. The SHO and investigation in-charge, however, were not properly investigated.

The accused have complained that they were not given adequate opportunity during the inquiry conducted by Mubasharullah to defend themselves.

Model Town Judicial Magistrate Naeem Abbas on Monday sent DSP Riasat Bajwa and three other police officials on a 14-day judicial remand for alleged involvement in the  fake encounter.

On Monday, Bajwa, SI Riaz Ahmed and two constables, Abdul Qadir and Muhammad Asif, were presented before the court.

Police said the investigation was complete.

The court while sending the accused for remand directed the police to submit a challan against the accused on July 4, the next date of hearing.

Last Friday, three robbers including Shahbaz Butt stormed into Makkah Medical Store in Yuhanabad. They looted Rs35,000 while the store owner started a scuffle with Butt. The two others fled but Butt was captured and handed over to the police, in whose custody he was later killed.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2011.