Murder charges: JIT starts probe against PM, ministers

Court had ordered registration of FIR after PAT protesters were killed in clashes

ISLAMABAD: A joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe alleged murder charges against the prime minister and other key cabinet members started investigation on Thursday, revealed a government official.

On the directive of a district and sessions judge, the secretariat police on September 15 registered an FIR against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and the former Islamabad Inspector General of Police for their alleged involvement in the killing of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers on August 30 during clashes in the Red Zone.

PAT leader Umar Riaz Abbasi had moved the court after the Secretariat police refused to register the high-profile case.

According to the official, who is close to the development, the JIT headed by SP Saddar Captain (retd) Elias Ahmed and representatives of the Inter Services Intelligence and the Intelligence Bureau and the Secretariat Police SHO formally started investigation into the alleged murder charges by collecting video footage of the incident.

In the first phase, video footage of the incident would be collected through different sources including TV channels and in the second phase, statements of eye-witnesses would be recorded to proceed with the case, the source revealed.

According to the source, the JIT will adopt the laid down procedure and follow the rules which are usually adopted in probing high-profile cases.

SP Ahmed, however, denied that the JIT has formally started probing the case saying he has not yet received any orders from the ‘high-ups’.  Secretariat SHO Nawaz Bhatti confirmed that the JIT held two meetings recently to discuss investigation procedures of the case.

When asked if all the nominated persons, including the prime minister, will be summoned to the police station to record their statements, the SHO said police will follow the law which may exempt them from appearing in person.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2014.