Naqeebullah Mehsud Murder Case: Prosecution Witness Retracts Statement

Naqeebullah Mehsud Murder Case: Prosecution Witness Retracts Statement
The prosecution's witness retracted his statement on Thursday during the proceedings of case of Naqeebula Mehsud's murder. Naqeebulla, a Pashtun youth from Waziristan, was allegedly killed by SIndh police in a fake encounter on 13 January 2018 in Karachi.

The prosecution witness who is a police officer said that on 31 March the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which was investigating the Naqeeb Ullah murder case, came to the Malir Cantonment Police Station and told him that the accused Rao Anwar has been summoned to the police station as well. The JIT and Anwar remained at the police station for two hours.

He told the court that he did not visit the crime scene with the JIT. The prosecutor said at this that the witness is retracting from his previous statement he gave to JIT. The witness responded by saying that he is only speaking truth under oath.

ATC judge also expressed his displeasure at the constant absence of the investigating officer SSP Abid Qaimkhani. He directed the focal person of case to ensure their presence in the next hearing.

Rao Anwar along with twenty three other police officers were charged with the murder of aspiring model Naqeeb Ullah Mehsud, Sabir Nazar and Ishaq who were killed in a fake encounter on 13 January 2018. Anwar claimed that Naqeebullah was a Taliban terrorist, but JIT found that he had no links with Taliban rather he was a “liberal” young man who aspired to become a model.

Former SSP Rao Anwar, former DSP Qamar Ahmed and three former police officials — Mohammad Yaseen, Supurd Hussain and Khizar Hayat — are on bail, whereas thirteen others are in jail. The court issued arrest warrants of seven other former police officers involved in the incident.