ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the premier intelligence agencies of the country to extend full support to the Sindh Police for the arrest of suspended Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir, Rao Anwar, who was involved in extrajudicial killing case of Naqeebullah Mehsud.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, and comprising Justice Umer Ata Bandyal and Justice Ijazul Ahsen, resumed hearing in the suo motu case of murder of 27-year-old Mehsud, who was gunned down, allegedly by Rao Anwar and his team in a fake encounter.
Inspector General of Police Sindh AD Khwaja appeared before the court and requested for the assistance of intelligence agencies including the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) for nabbing Rao Anwar, who has gone into hiding these days.
The court also directed Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to contact through Interpol, all the international airports for locating Rao Anwar. Similarly, the court on the request of cousin of Naqeebullah Mehsud also barred the electronic and print media from airing and publication of statements of Rao Anwar, who was claiming that he was in the country. The court also gave 10 more days to IGP Sindh AD Khwaja to arrest Rao Anwar. The CJ admonished the IGP over his failure to arrest Rao Anwar andasked as to what his force was doing when the accused tried to escape the country before going into hiding.
The FIA Immigration of Islamabad airport performance is commendable which foiled the attempt of Anwaar’s fleeing the country, the CJ said adding that Allah knows what would have happened had he managed to flee.
“Give me the whole profile of service, promotion as well as travel record of Rao Anwaar,” the chief justice told IGP Sindh. “Tell me if there is any political pressure on you. We will help you out,” the CJ asked the IGP.
The IGP, however, said that the moment he gets any clue, he will inform the court at the earliest. The CJ observed that issues were left to the court for redress and when the court took the cognisance then it is termed as judicial activism.
He told the court that they are using all their resources to arrest him but Anwaar has switched off his phones and he knows all the tricks to catching a suspect, adding that Anwaar’s last known location was in Dhok Paracha.
AD Khwaja further informed the court that their teams are operating in Lucky Marwat, Islamabad and interior Sindh. He however, said that they don't have the ability to trace WhatsApp but they have intimated to ISI and IB about it.
During the course of hearing, Noor Rehman, cousin of late Naqeebullah Mehsud appeared before the court in person and read out the letter sent by father of Naqeebullah Mehsud. His father stated it’s the fifth day but the whole provinces have not yet apprehended Rao Anwaar.
Is Rao Anwaar so powerful that all institutions of this country who is still at large and not yet nabbed by the police?” the father questioned. “Is it not tantamount to rubbing the salt into our wounds when Rao Anwaar says in the media that he is in Pakistan,” the father added.
The father said that as they were living in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and quite far away and don’t have any access to the authorities concerned, therefore, his requests should be given due consideration. “And please also instruct the police and other authorities not to inflict atrocities upon us,” the father added.
The chief justice remarked that the people of Fata are our brothers and their grievances are our grieves. The CJ further replied that ensuring protection of people of Fata was their responsibility so he assured the father not to worry.
“Even if you are far away from us, our hearts beat for you hence, you should not be worry about,” the CJ replied to father of Naqeebullah Mehsud. The court adjourned the hearing until February 13.
Earlier, Sohail Mahmood, Deputy Attorney General, also submitted before the court report on behalf of Ministry of Interior regarding Rao Anwaar stating that as per record provided by all the airports of the country, Rao Anwaar has not travelled abroad. Similarly, the report stated that as per all record of the border controlling agencies nothing was found that could establish that he has crossed the border.
