JI seeks capital punishment for Rao Anwar

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq has demanded that former SSP Malir Rao Anwar, accused of falsely labeling a youth as terrorist and killing him in a fake encounter, should be hanged.

Addressing a Grand Jirga in Sohrab Goth on Wednesday, Haq said Anwar killed at least 440 people in fake encounters and those who backed him should also be held accountable for his crimes. He said that JI stood beside the family of Naqeebullah and will respect whatever decision they take to seek justice, be it a long march to Islamabad or the siege of the Chief Minister House in Karachi.

“The blood of Naqeebullah will not go in vain,” he commented, “And despite their efforts, no one could now subdue this movement for justice.” He hoped it will be the last death of an innocent person in a fake encounter. Siraj urged the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to make efforts to arrest Anwar and hold him accountable for the killings.

“People want justice,” he asserted, “If government is not responsible then who is. The VIP system in the country must end. And everyone should be deemed equal, regardless of their status.” Siraj said his party will employ all legal, constitutional and democratic means to seek justice and the president and prime minister must answer why the poor are oppressed. He said if Sharia is implemented then these incidents may be prevented.