The judicial inquiry report of Osama Satti’s killing has suggested a trial against five Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) personnel who killed the youngster under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
The report also recommended action against the relevant Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) while it has been sent to the interior minister.
The report further read that the ATS personnel sprayed bullets on an unarmed civilian, therefore, inciting fear among the locals due to which the inquiry team suggested trying the case under the ATA. It added that the monitoring system of the capital police is weak, declaring senior officials of the police responsible for not controlling the situation.
The inquiry report also recommended the formation of a board for postings and transfers of the ATS personnel. It held strong reservations against the deployment of ATS personnel with regular police.
The report stated that wireless recording is an important aspect of evidence collection and that the wireless control room should be equipped with the latest technology. It further advised the new Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Qazi Jamilur Rehman to formulate a code of conduct for communications over wireless so that the messages could be transmitted without creating sensation..
Meanwhile, the report noted that the Interior Ministry had also written a letter for an inquiry through a judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on January 8.
Satti was shot dead in Islamabad during the week hours of January 2 after dropping his friend in Shams Colony. ATS personnel were on patrol in the area when they directed him to pull over, however, when he did not stop, they fired shots at him.
Subsequently, his friends and family held a protest on Srinigar Highway, blocking the main thoroughfare for hours. They only moved after they got the news about the arrest of the police officers nominated in the first information report.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2021.
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