Rao Anwar skips hearing of Naqeebullah case after ‘falling ill’

KARACHI: Suspended SSP Rao Anwar failed to appear before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case Wednesday over “deteriorating health conditions”.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi adjourned the hearing of the Naqeebullah murder case until May 14 after Rao Anwar, Sindh’s so-called ‘encounter specialist’, failed to appear before the court.
Mehsud, a 27-year-old native of South Waziristan, was killed in a fake encounter by a police team headed by Anwar in the outskirts of the metropolis on January 13 this year.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the jail authorities informed the court that Anwar has fallen sick and a doctor had come to check him. Anwar’s medical certificate, submitted to the court, stated that Anwar can’t be presented due to his illness, the exact nature of which was not mentioned.
The court, expressing its displeasure on Anwar’s absence, directed the police officials to produce him at the next hearing. The judge warned that the doctor who issued the health certificate for Anwar could be summoned to the court if Anwar is not brought on May 14.
Moreover, investigating officer SSP Dr Rizwan’s non-appearance in court irked the ATC judge who summoned him immediately. He later appeared before the court.
“Please tell us what measures have been taken to arrest the absconding suspects,” the court remarked, referring to the members of Anwar’s ‘encounter team’ who are yet to be arrested.
The court also ordered authorities to ensure Anwar’s appearance in the next hearing. In case Anwar fails to appear, then the doctor who issued the medical certificate can be summoned, the court observed. The court then adjourned the hearing till May 14.
During the hearing, the court was informed by the government of a notification declaring the Multan Lines in Malir Cantt as a sub-jail. The notification explained that on April 21 the court had ordered Anwar’s shifting to central jail but due to security issues, the home department directed the jails inspector general to move him to Malir Cantt.
Family members and friends of Naqeebullah Mehsud staged a protest demonstration outside the court, demanding full justice. “Rao Anwar is not ill but cunning; he is hiding behind a health certificate. We will bring the entire country to a standstill with our protest if Rao Anwar is not brought handcuffed on the next hearing,” said a relative of the deceased.
The lawyer of Naqeebullah’s father, Salahuddin, said that the primary suspect in the high-profile case was brought to the court without handcuffs at the last hearing. Justice can’t be dispensed if Rao Anwar keeps getting protocol, he remarked. Salahuddin shared that Naqeebullah’s relatives have come to the court all the way from Peshawar.
The ATC also came to know on Wednesday, through a notification, that the prime accused in the case was being kept at a “sub-jail” in Cantt area, instead of the prison.
According to a notification, Multan Lines in Cantt area had been declared sub-jail for Rao Anwar due to security threats to his life in the central prison.
The notification cited two separate telephonic conversations between the Sindh inspector general prisons, Muzaffar Alam Siddique, and SSP Central Prison, Karachi, and the other between the IGP prisons and Sindh home department secretary for allowing keeping Anwar at a sub-jail.
Anwar, along with other suspects, has also been booked for planting false evidence — pistols and hand grenades — on Mehsud and three others after killing them in the shootout, and later registering a false case against the deceased under the Sindh Arms Act for illegal possession of arms and explosives.
As many as 11 police officials had already been arrested in the case before Anwar was taken into custody following his’ surrender. Around 15 accused police officers have been declared as absconders in the case.