CTD in dock over 'fake encounter'

CCTV footage shows suspect was arrested alive from his home

RAWALPINDI:

The newly formed Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) suffered its first major legal setback when a Rawalpindi sessions court ordered the registration of a criminal case against CTD officials over an alleged fake police encounter.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Sahibzada Naqeeb Shehzad declared the encounter suspicious after CCTV footage showed that the suspect was arrested alive from his home.

The court directed that a case be registered under abduction and murder provisions against three inspectors, five constables, and all other CTD personnel present during the operation.

The petition seeking registration of the case was filed by Punjab Bar Council member Faisal Mahmood Malik and advocate Kaneez Fatima on behalf of the victim's sister, Asia Bibi.

The petition stated that around 15 heavily armed CTD personnel, led by inspectors, raided a house in Fazalabad, Dhoke Ilahi Bakhsh, within the jurisdiction of Waris Khan police station, in broad daylight.

According to the petition, the suspect, Naeem alias Guddu, was arrested from his home while asleep, subjected to torture, and the house was ransacked during a search.

Cash, jewellery, mobile phones and other valuables were allegedly taken away.

Five hours later, he was taken from Rawalpindi to a deserted area in Chakwal district, where he was shot dead and the killing was portrayed as a police encounter.

The petition maintained that the deceased was neither wanted nor an absconder, and no case had been registered against him prior to the incident. It argued that police have no authority to kill individuals and that courts exist to determine guilt and punishment.

The family was devastated by the killing, the petition added.

The prosecution opposed the plea, claiming the deceased was a drug dealer with several cases against him.

However, in response to the court order, Chakwal district police submitted that they had no knowledge of the encounter and that no Chakwal police personnel were involved.

Asia Bibi presented complete CCTV footage of the raid, which the court viewed. The footage showed CTD Inspector Shafqat, Inspector Mohsin Shah, Inspector Sardar Alam, and constables Malik Abid, Bilal Shah, Adnan and Ali Shah entering the house with advanced weapons and arresting the suspect.

In its order, the court ruled that the suspect's live arrest from his home was proven and directed the SHO of Waris Khan police station to record the complainant's statement and register an FIR accordingly.

The court stated that no one can be arrested from their home and killed, and that all police officials visible in the CCTV footage must be booked for murder.

Naeem alias Guddu was arrested from his home on November 30 and later killed in a so-called police encounter in Chakwal.

Faisal Mahmood Malik warned that contempt of court proceedings would be initiated if murder and abduction charges were not included in the FIR.