Govt to file appeal against Sahiwal suspects’ acquittal

PM orders Punjab govt to probe into prosecution’s failure to make a strong case

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday directed the Punjab government to file an appeal against an anti-terrorism court’s (ATC) decision to exonerate all accused in the Sahiwal killings case.

The premier also ordered the provincial government to conduct a probe into the factors that led the prosecution to put up a weak case before the court.

The PM’s directives came after people widely condemned the ATC’s Thursday decision to give “the benefit of doubt” to all six officials of the Punjab Police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD)” who killed three members of a family and their driver on January 19 in an alleged encounter.

The development was announced on Twitter by the Special Assistant to PM on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, who said the government remains determined to provide justice to the affected families.

“The state will take up the case if the victims’ family does not pursue the matter,” she wrote, adding that the whole nation had seen the footage of parents being murdered in front of their children.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has sent letters to Punjab chief secretary and inspector general police (IGP), asking them to file a review petition against the ATC order.

The ministry said the prosecution department must prepare a strong case by identifying the culprits through real testimonies. It also called for forming a high powered committee to find out reasons behind prosecution’s failure to present a strong case and identify the people responsible for this lapse.

The tragedy occurred on January 19 this year. Khalil, his wife Nabeela, their four children, and a neighbour, Zeeshan, were near the Sahiwal Toll Plaze on GT Road when the CTD personnel stopped their car and opened fire.

Khalil, Nabeela, their daughter Areeba, and Zeeshan, who was driving the car, died on the spot, while Khalil and Nabeela’s other three children survived. The cops later claimed that they were targeting suspected terrorists – a claim also endorsed by senior Punjab government officials.

“My papa pleaded before the police that there was no weapon in the car and that the police could search the vehicle,” one of the surviving children, Umar Khalil, said. “They didn’t listen to my papa and opened fire.”

TV channels reported Umar as saying: “My papa told the police officials to take their money and let them go, but they [police officials] did not listen and opened fire.” Eyewitnesses endorsed the children’s version, saying that the CTD officials opened fire on the car without giving any kind of warning.

They also said no weapons or explosives were recovered from the victims’ car.