Sahiwal killings: Punjab govt files appeal against acquittal of CTD officials

Prosecution, through appeal, submitted that trial court ignored case facts and acquitted suspects

LAHORE: The provincial government filed an appeal on Monday against the acquittal of the suspects in the Sahiwal killings case. Punjab Additional Prosecutor General Abdul Samad filed the appeal on behalf of the prosecution department, questioning the acquittal of the suspects.

The prosecution, through the appeal, submitted that the trial court ignored the case facts and acquitted the suspects. The court not only failed to appreciate the video footage but also did not give due importance to forensic evidence, which weakened the case, it added.

The prosecution further submitted that the trial court did not hold the case proceedings in-camera, although it was a sensitive matter. The court also failed to provide protection to witnesses, it stated. The prosecution requested setting aside the trial court.

Macabre encounter: ATC acquits all accused in Sahiwal killings case

Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the Punjab government to file an appeal against the verdict of the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the Sahiwal killings case. On October 24, a Lahore ATC acquitted six Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials, Safdar Hussain, Ahsan Khan, Ramzan, Saifullah, Husnain and Nasir Nawaz, in the case after giving them the benefit of the doubt. The victims Muhammad Khalil, his wife Nabila, their teenage daughter Areeba, and friend Zeeshan Javed were killed after the CTD officials opened fire on their car in Sahiwal on January 19.

Jalil, brother of the victim Khalil, had lodged a case against six CTD officials at Yousafwala police station. Initially, the trial was conducted in Sahiwal, but the Lahore High Court ordered the transfer of the case from Sahiwal to Lahore while allowing a petition, filed by Jalil. The petitioner contended that he had been facing problems while attending trial proceedings in Sahiwal.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2019.