KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday gave provincial police chief Allah Dino Khowaja three days’ time to arrest former SSP Malir Rao Anwar in the murder case of aspiring fashion model Naqeebullah Mehsud.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-judge bench, was hearing a suo motu case pertaining to the death of 27-year-old man at the apex court’s Karachi registry
At the outset, the IG Sindh informed the bench that former SSP Malir Rao Anwar is on the run. The police have made every possible effort to nab him, but to no avail, he added.
CJP asked him to inform if someone was providing the absconding police officer shelter from police in Karachi.
There were many people who can offer him a hiding place here, he continued.
IG Khowaja expressed apprehension that Anwar might have fled the country. When asked to give a time frame for his arrest, he asked for three days’ time.
The chief justice directed the provincial police chief to ensure his arrest within three days. He also summoned from the relevant authorities travel history of the beleaguered police officer.
Naqeeb’s father requested the chief justice to appoint a judicial commission to probe his son’s killing in the alleged fake encounter.
On this, CJP Nisar said the judicial commission was not a solution as police alone could carry out better probe into the matter.
He said judicial commission could not probe a criminal case, adding that he had faith in police as there were some police officers having good reputation in the department.
The chief justice further directed the IG to independently proceed with the matter without any pressure.
Anwar, who led the encounter in which the young man was killed along with three others, was summoned to the court to explain his position, but he didn’t turn up.
Anwar and his team are believed to have gone into hiding after the registration of a murder case against them. They have insisted that all the four men killed in the encounter were terrorists.
FIR No 40/18 under sections 365, 344, 302, 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act has been registered at the Sachal Goth police station on the complaint of Naqeeb’s father Muhammad Khan against SSP Rao Anwar and his team.
