KARACHI: The Pakistani police official accused of killing aspiring model Naqeebullah Mehsud was remanded into 30-day police custody by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Thursday.
SSP Rao Anwar, who was moved to Karachi after his surrender, was brought from Malir Cantonment in an armored vehicle amid tight security.
At the end of proceedings, the investigation informed the media that since there were threats to the life of the accused, he had requested an unusual 30-day remand, which the court approved.
At the outset of proceedings, Abid Qaimkhani, investigation officer, said that after getting police remand for the accused, he would be interrogated by the joint investigation team (JIT).
The apex court bench ordered that the investigation by the JIT be conducted fairly, transparently and independently without being influenced by any proceedings passed by the court in the past and by the adverse media coverage.
Rao Anwar, former senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Malir, Karachi, is accused of killing a young Pashtun aspiring model, Naqeebullah Mehsud, in a fake encounter.
Anwar had claimed that Naqeebullah was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), though subsequently evidence began to pile up against the police team involved in his killing.
Following the incident, a formal inquiry was launched against Anwar. As pressure mounted on him, however, he decided to go underground and even made a botched attempt to fly out of Pakistan.
He also wrote letters to the Supreme Court after it began the hearing into Naqeebullah’s murder, telling the judges that the system was heavily stacked against him and that he was not hopeful of getting justice in the case.
In response, the country’s top court decided to grant him some relief, asking him to surrender himself and let the law take its course.
The court was also willing to reconstitute a joint investigation team looking into Naqeebullah’s killing since the absconding police officer had voiced concern over its composition.
Despite these steps, Anwar did not make an appearance before the court, forcing its judges to take strict action against him by asking the relevant authorities to freeze his accounts.
In a surprise move on Wednesday, however, the absconding police officer came to the court, wearing a medical mask to cover his face.
Anwar’s lawyer told the chief justice that his client had “surrendered” himself and wanted protective bail. However, the Supreme Court turned down the request and ordered law enforcement authorities to lock up the former SSP.
The country’s top judge expressed his displeasure, saying that Anwar had continued to run away from legal procedures even when the court had guaranteed that he would get a fair hearing.
SSP Rao Anwar, who was moved to Karachi after his surrender, was brought from Malir Cantonment in an armored vehicle amid tight security.
At the end of proceedings, the investigation informed the media that since there were threats to the life of the accused, he had requested an unusual 30-day remand, which the court approved.
At the outset of proceedings, Abid Qaimkhani, investigation officer, said that after getting police remand for the accused, he would be interrogated by the joint investigation team (JIT).
The apex court bench ordered that the investigation by the JIT be conducted fairly, transparently and independently without being influenced by any proceedings passed by the court in the past and by the adverse media coverage.
Rao Anwar, former senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Malir, Karachi, is accused of killing a young Pashtun aspiring model, Naqeebullah Mehsud, in a fake encounter.
Anwar had claimed that Naqeebullah was an active member of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), though subsequently evidence began to pile up against the police team involved in his killing.
Following the incident, a formal inquiry was launched against Anwar. As pressure mounted on him, however, he decided to go underground and even made a botched attempt to fly out of Pakistan.
He also wrote letters to the Supreme Court after it began the hearing into Naqeebullah’s murder, telling the judges that the system was heavily stacked against him and that he was not hopeful of getting justice in the case.
In response, the country’s top court decided to grant him some relief, asking him to surrender himself and let the law take its course.
The court was also willing to reconstitute a joint investigation team looking into Naqeebullah’s killing since the absconding police officer had voiced concern over its composition.
Despite these steps, Anwar did not make an appearance before the court, forcing its judges to take strict action against him by asking the relevant authorities to freeze his accounts.
In a surprise move on Wednesday, however, the absconding police officer came to the court, wearing a medical mask to cover his face.
Anwar’s lawyer told the chief justice that his client had “surrendered” himself and wanted protective bail. However, the Supreme Court turned down the request and ordered law enforcement authorities to lock up the former SSP.
The country’s top judge expressed his displeasure, saying that Anwar had continued to run away from legal procedures even when the court had guaranteed that he would get a fair hearing.
