News Desk |
An anti-terrorism court granted bail to former SSP, Rao Anwar, who was the prime suspect in illustrating a staged encounter in an extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud and three others.
Adding that Naqeebullah did not possess any extremist tendencies. Eradicating the TTP, affiliation involved in the destruction of his credibility as a liberal man.
On Wednesday, 11th July, 2018, a 26-page bail order, was released at the hands of an ATC-II judge. On 10th July, one day prior to the bail order release, the court granted bail to SSP Rao Anwar, who was kept in a temporary detention center, located in Multan Lines, Malir cantonment.
The bail was granted with a fine of Rs.1 million, which was deposited to the courts nazir on Wednesday.
Read more: A cop turned hitman: Rao Anwar wants security ?
Despite receiving bail, the suspended, senior officer couldn’t be released due to another pending case against him being presented to the same court. The bail plea for the hearing of this second case, is scheduled for 16th July,2018.
Under the second case he’s been booked in, for possession of illegal explosives.Taking the prior facts into consideration, former SSP, Rao Anwar, a senior police officer was arrested on 21st March,2018 after eluding law enforcement agencies for a month.
The case started as an incident took place at Shah Latif Town of Karachi where an operation took place, supervised by Senior Superintendent of police, Malik Rao Anwar. During this operation a shootout commenced in which four alleged members of banned crew, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were killed, including Naqeebullah.
Under the orders of Justice KK Agha, “send him to jail”, led to a ray of hope that our judiciary will indeed lead the wrongdoers behind bars.
In the present case, regarding the bail plea, defense counsel, Amir Mansoob Qureshi and Mushtaq Ahmed, and prosecution were dependent upon the Call Data Record (CDR), of Rao Anwar’s cell phone.
The advocate, Salahuddin Panhwar, representing the complainant Rao Anwar, continuously highlighted that Rao Anwar was present at the crime scene at 1425 hours and 1435 hours.
On 10th July, one day prior to the bail order release, the court granted bail to SSP Rao Anwar, who was kept in a temporary detention center, located in Multan Lines, Malir cantonment.
Examining the CDR report, the judge notes that the networking showed, that Rao Anwar was not present at the place of the incident from 1500 to 1520, when the alleged fake encounter, in fact took place.
Read more: Rao Anwar to face the judiciary for fake encounters but what…
What was understood from this perusal of data, was that, it indicated that Rao Anwar wasn’t at the crime scene when the shoot-out took place, on 13th January, 2018.
The defense counsel, Mr. Panhwar tried to counter this with an opposing argument that the accused, SSP Malir, held a press conference at the place of the incident and referred to the words, “HUM”, i.e. “US”, indicating his involvement in the shoot-out.
In defense, statistics, of a WhatsApp message which was sent from Amanullah Marwat, former SHO, informing Rao Anwar about the encounter and as he was the SSP of the area, therefore, he held the conference and used the word “us” instead of “I”.
Other facts present, indicated that Rao Anwar wanted to leave the country at 23rd January at 01100 hours, however, the FIR had been registered after the flight was booked. This led to the judge terming that it was a fact that Rao Anwar wanted to avoid inquiry, however, he couldn’t be labelled as a fugitive.
The judge wiped off the terrorist tag from Naqeebullah, stating in and order which he wrote, that there was no doubt as per enquiry reports, that the encounter was a fake one. Adding that Naqeebullah did not possess any extremist tendencies. Eradicating the TTP, affiliation involved in the destruction of his credibility as a liberal man.
Noting facts and evidence, the judge ultimately granted Rao Anwar bail, with a fine of Rs.1 million. Further ordering that Rao Anwar, deposits his passport with the court and lists him on the Exit Control List, restricting his movements.
“His movements are also restricted, he cannot leave the city, if his family wants to meet him, they can come to Pakistan and meet him,” ordered the judge.
“We also have good hospitals in the country for all diseases; if he falls sick he should get his treatment in Pakistan. He is already on ECL (exit control list),” the judge concluded.