‘Encounter’: 10 witnesses record statements against DSP, police officials

LAHORE:

Ten witnesses on Tuesday submitted their affidavits in a judicial magistrate’s court in a case against police officials including a DSP allegedly involved in a fake encounter. The witnesses appeared before Magistrate Kanwar Anwaar’s court.

Previously, Magistrate Naeem Abbas had sent DSP Riasat Bajwa and three other police officials to jail on 14-day judicial remand and fixed July 4 as the next date for hearing of the case. According to prosecution, three robbers, including Shehbaz Butt, had entered a medical Store in Youhanabad on June 10. Butt’s accomplices fled and he was caught by the owner. SI Riaz arrived at the scene with his team and later allegedly shot Butt near Rohi Canal in a fake encounter. The DSP and accused policemen were arrested and a case was registered. Nishtar Colony police had claimed that Butt had fired at the police which led to the encounter.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2011.