‘Rao was not present at Naqeebullah encounter scene’

Counsel says call data records fail to place him at location

KARACHI:

Important revelations were made during the cross-examination of the statement of Dr Rizwan, the investigating officer of the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case.

Advocate Amir Mansoob says that according to the call data records (CDR), which were included as part of the court records, his client and former SSP Malir Rao Anwar was not present at the scene of the encounter which claimed the life of Mehsud. "The CDR states that on January 13, 2018, at 3:27am, my client arrived at the venue and stayed there till 5:30pm."

The documents presented contain various articles about the incident and the suspects. Investigating Officer Dr Rizwan kept answering yes or no to queries during his cross examination and kept giving explanations.

During the hearing, harsh words were also exchanged between the complainant's counsel Salahuddin Panhwar and Amir Mansoob. The latter asked the investigation officer when he joined the police force and whether he had ever investigated a case before this one.

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Dr Rizwan replied that he joined the force in 2010. "I also investigated and have been a member of the JIT," he said. Rao Anwar's counsel Amir Mansoob questioned whether his investigation into Naqeebullah's cases was correct. Dr Rizwan said there was one error in the investigation and that had been rectified.

The defence counsel asked whether it was true if Rao Anwar had surrendered himself in the Supreme Court to which the investigating officer replied in the affirmative. Mansoob also asked Rizwan whether it was true that the challans had already been submitted when the investigation of these cases was assigned to him.

He also questioned of there were any CCTV cameras at the places he inspected. Dr Rizwan replied that it was indeed true that the cases had already been challaned when he took charge of the investigation. Counsels for the other suspects also cross-examined the IO.

Following the completion of the cross-examination, the court adjourned the hearing till April 24, seeking final arguments from the lawyers.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2022.