Karachi ATC acquits 7 more policemen ‘for lack of evidence’ in Naqeebullah Mehsud's murder case

KARACHI: An antiterrorism court in Karachi acquitted seven more policemen on Saturday in connection with the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud and three others in a staged encounter that took place in January 2018. The officials involved included Shah Latif Town and Sachal police sub-inspectors Amanullah Marwat and Shaikh Muhammad Shoaib, assistant sub-inspector Gada Hussain, head constables Sadaqat Ali and Mohsin Abbasi, and constables Raja Shamim and Rana Riaz Ahmed.

They were facing charges for allegedly killing Naqeebullah Mehsud, Mohammad Sabir, Nazar Jan, and Mohammad Ishaq in the incident. The court acquitted them due to a lack of evidence. Prosecutor Anila Malik argued that the prosecution presented over 40 witnesses, who linked the accused to the offenses, and provided documentary evidence that supported their testimonies.

However, the defense lawyer, Farzana Mateen, claimed that all the accused were framed with malicious intent. She pointed out that none of the 40 witnesses directly implicated any of the accused, and highlighted contradictions in the prosecution witnesses' testimonies. Additionally, two star witnesses did not associate the accused with the case during their recorded statements under Section 164 CrPC and failed to identify them as the culprits during their evidence before the trial court.

The defense lawyer also argued that there was no allegation of abduction against the accused, and the prosecution failed to prove their involvement in the alleged encounter. Former SSP Rao Anwar had been acquitted in a similar case in 2023.