A court in Rawalpindi has ordered the registration of a murder case against Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officers in connection with an alleged fake police encounter, ruling that no law enforcement agency is permitted to abduct a citizen from their home and kill them.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Sahibzada Naqeeb Shehzad issued the order while hearing an application filed by the victim’s sister, Asia Bibi. The judge observed that the authority to punish or acquit rests solely with the courts and that no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands.
According to the case details, Naeem alias Guddu was arrested from his home in the Waris Khan police station area on November 30. He was later killed in what police described as an encounter in Chakwal. The family challenged the official version, terming the incident a staged encounter.
In his remarks, the judge stated that CCTV footage clearly showed the victim being taken from his house. The footage also showed police personnel carrying heavy weapons, which, the court said, contradicted the claim of a lawful arrest and encounter.
The court ordered that a murder case be registered against CTD Inspectors Shafqat, Mohsin Shah, and Sardar Asim. It also directed the registration of a case against constables Malik Abid, Adnan, Ali Shah, and Bilal Shah. The judge further instructed that all police officers and officials visible in the CCTV footage be nominated as accused.
The court directed the Station House Officer of Waris Khan police station to register the case on the basis of the footage and to formally record the statement of the victim’s sister.
