Rao Anwar files bail plea in Naqeebullah case

KARACHI: The key accused in the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case, suspended Malir senior superintendent of police Rao Anwar has filed a bail application with an anti-terrorism court (ATC).

The court has issued notices to the state attorneys for tendering their arguments on the bail plea filed on behalf of Anwar, claiming that Anwar was not present at the place where Mehsud was killed in a fake police encounter.

Mehsud, 27-year-old Waziristan native, and three other men were killed in the staged encounter in Malir’s Shah Latif Town in January this year.

He was picked up by plain-clothes officials from Gul Sher Agha Hotel in Sohrab Goth on January 3. Police claimed killing four terrorists during a shootout in Shah Latif Town on January 13. After the suspects’ pictures were released, Mehsud’s family found out that he was among the men killed by a police team led by Anwar.

In his bail application, Anwar argued that there were contradictions in the charge sheet and the reports of the joint interrogation team (JIT) and the geo-financing as well.

He said he deserved to be granted bail due to the contradictory reports submitted to the trial court by the prosecution.

Anwar has been declared a key accused in the interim charge sheet prepared by the Sindh police on the order of the apex court of the country.

SSP District Central Dr Rizwan Ahmed prepared this charge sheet that said that Anwar was not only the key accused but was present at the scene and led the fake encounter in which Mehsud, Muhammad Ishaque, Muhammad Sabir and Nazar Jan were shot dead.

The report claimed that the geo-fencing data also confirmed the presence of Anwar when the four men were allegedly killed.

The murder case against Anwar and over two dozens of his subordinates has been fixed for May 14.