Extra-judicial killing: Case against four cops sent to prosecutors

80-page challan accuses DSP, SI and two constables of murder.

LAHORE:

Nishtar Colony police on Wednesday submitted an 80-page challan against Deputy Superintendent of Police Riasat Bajwa and three other police officials to the prosecution department for staging an encounter to cover up the extra-judicial killing of a suspected robber.

According to the investigation, DSP Bajwa, Sub Inspector Muhammad Riaz and Constables Abdul Qadir and Muhammad Asif shot and killed Shahbaz Butt at Nishtar Colony and then claimed that he had been killed in a shootout. The shooting occurred after a robbery at Makkah Medical Store in Youhanabad earlier this month. Three men including Butt tried to hold up the store and took Rs35,000, but the owner resisted. The other two robbers fled but Butt was overpowered by the owner and another man. They called the police and Sub Inspector Riaz took Butt into custody.

The policemen later claimed that they had been returning to the police station when they identified and started chasing some motorbike snatchers. They said that Butt had tried to escape during the chase and been caught in a crossfire between the police and the bike snatchers.

But a later inquiry conducted by Deputy Inspector General Major (r) Mubashirullah found that Butt had been shot at close range and his body dumped in Rohi drain. He had no criminal record. The DIG has recently been made head of a 10-member board to check staged encounters.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2011.