‘Rao Anwar not present when Naqeebullah was killed’

Witness says geo-fencing shows the former SSP only arrived at the scene after the 'encounter'

Former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, DSP Qamar and others accused of murdering Naqeebullah were not present at the crime scene when the alleged encounter occurred, a witness told an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday.

ATC-3 was hearing the murder case at Karachi Central Jail, where Anwar, Qamar and others appeared before the court.

Mobile CDR (call detail record) expert Inspector Hanif and three other witnesses recorded their statements, while one witness was surrendered by the prosecution.

Hanif told the court that the alleged encounter took place between 3pm to 3:20pm, while the presence of the mobile phones of the accused officials at the crime scene was only recorded at the nearest mobile phone tower after this time period.

He claimed that Anwar, Qamar and around 10 others were therefore not present at the site of the alleged encounter when it occurred. He further said the geo-fencing report suggested that they arrived there later on, because according to the mobile CDR, Anwar's presence at the crime scene was only registered afterwards, while he appeared to be on the move when the incident took place.

According to Hanif, DSP Qamar was recorded as being at Razzaqabad Training Centre at 3:08pm, while his location at the crime scene was recorded at 3:30pm.

The lawyers representing the accused completed the cross-examination of the witnesses' statements.

The court summoned more witnesses at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2020.