Sahiwal encounter: PM directs Punjab govt to file appeal

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday said that PM Imran Khan has directed the Punjab government to file an appeal on Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) verdict regarding Sahiwal encounter case.

In a tweet, the special assistant said that the premier has also ordered the provincial government to investigate the weaknesses and flaws of prosecution in leading the case.

وزیراعظم عمران خان نے سانحہ ساہیوال کے حوالے سے خصوصی عدالت کے فیصلے پر پنجاب حکومت کو اپیل دائر کرنے کی ہدایت دی ہے۔اس کیس کی پیروی میں استغاثہ کی کمزوری اور خامیوں کی تحقیقات کرنے کا بھی حکم دیا ہے۔

— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) October 25, 2019

Entire nation had watched the video of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officers opening fire at the passengers.

The government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is committed to ensure justice to the children, who lost their parents in this shooting mishap, she asserted.

بچوں کے سامنے ان کے والدین پر گولیاں برسانے کی ویڈیو پوری قوم نے دیکھی،حکومت معصوم بچوں کو انصاف دینے کیلئے پرعزم ہے،اگر ان کا خاندان مدعی نہیں بنتا تو ریاست اس مقدمے کی مدعیت کرے گی۔

— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) October 25, 2019

Earlier, An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore on Thursday has ordered all the accused involved in the Sahiwal case to be acquitted, giving them the benefit of the doubt.

The Court Judge, Arshad Hussain Bhatta heard the case in which 49 witnesses, including brother of the deceased Zeeshan, were recorded.

The suspects Safdar Hussain, Ahsan Khan, Ramzan, Saifullah, Hasnain and Nasir Nawaz appeared before the court.

During the hearing, statements were also given by the victim Khalil’s children and his brother. The witnesses refused to identify the suspects before the court.

The court issued its verdict after holding hearings for the case for nine months.

On January 19, four people, including three of a family, were killed in an alleged shootout in Sahiwal, with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel claiming they had killed a local commander of militant organization Daesh and three others in the operation.