Family alleges police killed youth in 'staged encounter'

The family of a man killed in a reported encounter with the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Sindh police has alleged that it was a "staged encounter."

Shams-ur-Rehman, brother of the deceased Sakhi-ur-Rehman, has submitted a formal petition to higher authorities, along with CCTV footage, casting doubt on police's claims of a legitimate shootout.

The footage, which has surfaced, shows plainclothes officers taking Sakhi-ur-Rehman into custody before he was allegedly killed in the encounter.

According to a petition submitted by Shams-ur-Rehman, the incident occurred on the night of January 7. Around 3.12am, Imam Bakhsh, along with 10-15 unidentified officers, arrived at his younger brother's home in plain clothes and conducted an illegal raid. They allegedly arrested Sakhi-ur-Rehman and took him away without any formal proceedings. The CCTV footage captured during the raid clearly shows the officers taking Sakhi from his house.

Shams further claimed that during the abduction, valuable items were stolen from their home. Imam Bakhsh, one of the plainclothes officers, allegedly demanded Rs3 million from their other brother, Sajid, in exchange for Sakhi's release. Despite receiving the ransom money, the petition alleges, Sakhi was later killed in a fake encounter.

Moreover, Sajid was falsely implicated in a drug case, and money was illegally transferred from his bank accounts. Shams has accused police of torturing his brother before killing him in the staged encounter.

"The entire incident reeks of corruption and abuse of power. My brother was tortured and then killed in what appears to be a fake police encounter. We demand a thorough and impartial investigation into this matter and the legal prosecution of those responsible," said Shams in his petition.

The SIU, on the other hand, claims to have killed Sakhi in a genuine encounter near the Giribabad railway crossing on the night of January 7-8.

However, the family's allegations, coupled with the CCTV footage, have cast doubt on the police's version of events.