ATC issues show-cause notices over alleged fake encounter

Rawalpindi : The Special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has issued show-cause notices to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Rawat Police Station and two police inspectors in connection with the alleged fake police encounter that led to the death of an accused individual in custody.

The court questioned the legality of the incident, stating, “If the accused was to be killed, why was the court’s warrant used? Why not register a murder case against both of you, including the City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi, SSP Operations, and SP Saddar?”

The ATC directed the officers to submit a written response along with all relevant details before June 2, warning that failure to do so would result in legal action.

According to the show-cause notice issued to SHO Inspector Zahid Zahoor and Investigation Inspector Afzal Mehmood, both officers appeared before the court on May 20 to obtain non-bailable arrest warrants for Wahid alias Wahidi, named in FIR No. 1335/24 under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and related charges. However, news later surfaced through national and social media that the accused had been killed in what was described as a staged encounter, allegedly sanctioned by senior police officials.

The court remarked that the killing of citizens in fake encounters is a "slap in the face of the administration." It condemned the misuse of court warrants as an attempt to give legal cover to an unlawful act and described the move as contempt of court.

The notice demands that both officers appear in person and explain why a murder case under Sections 302/109 of the Pakistan Penal Code should not be registered against them and senior officials involved. The court warned that failure to respond would be seen as an inability to defend themselves, in which case the court would proceed with legal action.

In a separate development, Rawalpindi’s sessions courts have handed down multiple death sentences in two unrelated double murder cases, including one involving the brutal killing of a sister-in-law.

In the first case, the Taxila Police registered an FIR in December last year against an accused named Babar, who was charged with murdering his elder brother’s wife with an axe during a domestic dispute. After a full trial, the court sentenced Babar to death and ordered him to pay Rs500,000 in compensation to the victim’s heirs.

In the second case, the Gujar Khan Police booked Muhammad Razaq in September 2018 for double murder, attempted murder, and causing grievous injuries. Razaq was accused of opening fire during an argument, killing two individuals and injuring another.