New footage raises more questions

Karachi

A day after DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar ordered the formation of a probe team for the PIA rally shooting incident, the paramilitary force released video footage showing a suspicious hooded figure at the rally and urged people who were in attendance to help identify the man in question.

In a statement, the force assured complete support and protection for anyone who comes forward with information. A day earlier, following widespread rumours about Rangers’ involvement in the fatal shootings, the DG Rangers had taken notice of the matter and formed a probe team under the supervision of a brigadier rank officer.

‘No FIR request’

The Station House Officer (SHO) of the Airport police station on Thursday informed a local court that he was not approached by anyone to register a case against the alleged killing of two employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

He, however, assured the court that in case of being approached he would perform his duties as per the law.

PIA’s Joint Action Committee (JAC) had filed a application before the district and sessions judge (Malir) submitting that employees of the national flag carrier were observing a protest on February 2 (Tuesday) against the privatization of the airline when law enforcement personnel opened fire at the employees, which lead to the deaths of two employees and injuries to over 10 people.

The committee had prayed to the court to issue orders for the registration of an FIR against Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, special assistant to the premier on Aviation Shujaat Azeem, PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan and other federal government officials including Brig (Retd) Asif, Mama Maqsood, Irfan Elahi and others.

Two people were killed while over 10 including media personnel sustained injuries after shots were fired at the anti-privatisation protest of PIA employees near the Jinnah International Airport.

The incident came a day after the prime minister enforced the Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1952 for six months in an effort to get the workers of the PIA to stop protesting.