Rao Anwar sent on 30-day physical remand

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) approved on Thursday a 30-day physical remand of suspended Malir SSP Rao Anwar in the Naqeebullah Mehsud killing case.

The decision came as police escorted Anwar to the court under strict security.

Anwar, wanted in the extrajudicial murder case, was brought to court in an armoured personnel carrier.

The hearing was held behind closed doors.

Anwar was taken to the ATC-II after the judge demanded he be presented on Thursday. The court’s demand had come in response to a request by Malir SP Investigation Abid Qaimkhani, who asked if Anwar could be produced in the next hearing. But the court dismissed the plea. Anwar was named an accused in the extrajudicial murder case of 27-year-old Naqeebullah Mehsud and three others who were killed in a fake police encounter in Karachi on January 13 on Anwar’s orders.

Anwar, after absconding in the case since late January, was arrested on the Supreme Court’s orders on Wednesday after he finally appeared in court and later transported to Karachi.

The other 10 police officials arrested in the case, including Anwar’s associate DSP Qamar Ahmed, were also produced in court.

Anwar is also nominated in a case pertaining to the illegal possession of weapons and explosives.

Talking to the media earlier in the day, the counsel for the elders of the Mehsud tribe, Pir Rehman Mehsud, said the chief justice of Pakistan had played a pivotal role in the high-profile murder case.

SC wraps up suo motu case of Naqeeb murder

The Supreme Court released on Thursday its detailed judgment in the Naqeebullah Mehsud killing case and wrapped up the suo motu proceedings after the appearance and arrest of primary accused, suspended Malir SSP Rao Anwar, two days earlier.