{
  "id": 10120728,
  "title": "ATC acquits 7 more policemen ‘for lack of evidence’ in Naqeebullah Mehsud's murder case",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/atc-acquits-7-more-policemen-for-lack-of-evidence-in-naqeebullah",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T02:51:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2032901/atc-acquits-7-more-policemen-for-lack-of-evidence-in-naqeebullah-mehsuds-murder-case"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KARACHI - An Antiterrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi acquitted seven policemen on Saturday, claiming there was insufficient evidence to convict them in the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud and three others allegedly killed in a staged encounter in January 2018. The accused included former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, as well as several other police officers. The prosecution had presented over 40 witnesses to tie the accused to the crime, but the defense argued that no single witness directly implicated any of the accused. They also pointed out contradictions in the evidence and claimed the accused were framed for a mala fide intention. The case originated when Naqeebullah Mehsud and his companions were allegedly picked up by Rao Anwar's team, while the other two detainees were released. The whereabouts of Mehsud remained unknown, and his phone was found powered off. The provincial police claimed Rao Anwar and his associates killed Mehsud and others in a staged encounter, but an inquiry committee found them involved in the case, which was later overturned by the trial court in 2023.",
  "summary": "KARACHI: After the acquittal of former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, an antiterrorism court on Saturday acquitted seven more policemen in a case over the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud and three others in a staged encounter in January 2018. The then SHOs of Shah Latif Town and Sachal police, Amanullah Marwat and Shaikh Muhammad Shoaib alias Shooter; assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gada Hussain; head…",
  "key_points": [
    "ATC acquits 7 policemen in Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case",
    "Prosecution presented 40+ witnesses, but defense found no direct implication",
    "Case originated from alleged staged encounter, overturned by trial court in 2023"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The acquittal of seven policemen, including former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, in the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case undermines the provincial police's earlier findings of their involvement in a staged encounter.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "SHO among seven cops acquitted in Naqeebullah murder case",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/sho-among-seven-cops-acquitted-in-naqeebullah-murder-case",
        "published": "2026-09-26T23:09:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "ATC acquits 7 more policemen ‘for lack of evidence’ in Naqeebullah Mehsud's murder case",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/atc-acquits-7-more-policemen-for-lack-of-evidence-in-naqeebullah-10125605",
        "published": "2026-09-27T02:51:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}