Youth’s family demands probe by an HC judge

Islamabad chief commissioner sets up a JIT headed by SP and comprising members of MI, ISI and IB

ISLAMABAD:

The family of the 22-year-old Osama Sitti, who was gunned down by Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) firing, in the early hours of Saturday in the federal capital, has demanded of the government to hold an inquiry into the killing of the youth under the supervision of a senior high court judge.

The Islamabad chief commissioner set up a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under Section 19 of the Anti-Terrorism Act to investigate the death of Osama.

According to a notification, the JIT will be headed by SP Saddar zone Sarfraz Virk. Apart from DSP Ramna Police Station, DSP Investigation and SHO Ramna Police Station, one representative each from the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence and Intelligence Bureau will also be a part of the JIT.

Five offic¬ials of the capital police’s ATS were arrested and a case was registered aga¬inst them on charges of killing Osama.

Osama was in the G-10 area of Islamabad on the night between Friday and Saturday.

According to reports, the 22-year-old was coming after dropping his friend in the area of Shams Colony.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Farrukh Satti, cousin of the slain youth, said that ATS personnel were on patrol in the area and had asked Osama to pull over. However, when he did not stop, they opened indiscriminate fire on him.

The police claim they tried to stop the “suspicious” vehicle with tinted windows and opened fire when the driver did not stop.

On Sunday, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid visited the residence of Osama and assured the family of an independent inquiry into the tragic incident. 

Rashid said the government, soon after the incident, had taken action and registered a first information report against five police personnel allegedly involved in the tragic incident and arrested them. 

The family of the victim, during the minister's visit, demanded inquiry under the supervision of a senior high court judge. 

The minister stated that all legal aspects of the demand would be examined.

The minister said no injustice would be done to anyone as all were equal under the law.  

He directed the Islamabad IGP to take steps to prevent any such incident in future.

Earlier, SAPM on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari and Minister of State for Narcotics Control Shehryar Khan Afridi met with the bereaved family to offer condolences.

Taking to Twitter after the visit, SAPM Bukhari said they met with the

family of Osama on the premier’s instructions and assured them of a complete and transparent investigation into the incident.

With input from APP