DIG told to identify culprits involved in Sakrand villagers’ killings

karachi: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed the Shaheed Benazirabad DIG to identify the culprits involved in the “extrajudicial” killings of four people and causing injuries to nine others in Sakrand town’s Marri Jalbani village. The direction came on a petition seeking a judicial probe into the September 29, 2023, incident.

The DIG filed an interim progress report with regard to the investigation of the case, and sought time to file a report on further progress made after identifying the culprits. The prosecutor general said the charge sheet has been submitted to the trial court, and the petition has become infructuous.

An SHC division bench headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto granted time to the police officer, directing him to trace the unidentified persons involved in the killings, and submit a report by March 28.

Senior advocates Tahmasp Rasheed Razvi, Zulfiqar Ali Jalbani and Aaquib Rajpar said in the petition that four persons were killed and nine others, including women, injured in the incident. They pointed out that there were contradictory statements with regard to the incident.

They said that on the one hand it was stated that alleged militants of the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army were killed in the operation of the police and Rangers.

While on the other hand, they added, the Sindh United Party’s (SUP) general secretary said that those killed were SUP supporters, and they were killed during a protest for the release of detained student Liaquat Jalbani who was in the custody of law enforcement agencies.

They also said that according to media reports, the SUP’s Benazirabad president identified the deceased as Akhan Ali, his brother Nizamuddin, Mehar and Sajawal, while Allahdad and his other son Imamuddin received injuries.

They pointed out that two different versions have been noted down in the FIRs that have been registered on the complaint of the villagers and by the police against each other.

The advocates said that the instant petition aims to prevent violations of the constitutional and legal rights of a significant number of individuals who may be economically or socially disadvantaged, poor or lacking in knowledge.

They requested the SHC to direct the chief secretary to constitute a judicial commission under the supervision of a high court judge in the interest of justice, equity and good conscience.

They said the commission should comprise other relevant experts and persons, and they should give their findings after investigating the incident and fixing responsibility. They also sought the release of the villagers who were illegally detained after the

operation.