Sindh Police has failed to ascertain the whereabouts of former SSP Malir Rao Anwar, a prime accused of extra-judicially killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, despite the lapse of the Supreme Court's deadline. Naqeeb was a youth from South Waziristan who was living in Karachi. The delinquency of Sindh police have evoked stiff protest and anger from Mehsud tribe, who has announced to stage countrywide sit-ins until the arrest of so-called super cop Rao Anwar.
Meanwhile, political critics alleged that Rao had a close association with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership, which, they said, is main hurdle in his arrest because the so-called encounter specialist was seen enjoying ministerial protocol since PPP again came to power in Sindh. However, PPP-led provincial government dispelled this impression, saying that the authorities were striving to nab him and take him to task.
Replying to a question of a reporter, on the sidelines of the launching of 'Programme for Improved Nutrition in Sindh' at a hotel Tuesday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Shah said he doesn't know about the whereabouts of Rao Anwar. "What I know is that no accused is above the law," he asserted, adding that efforts are being made and all the provincial governments and agencies have been requested to help arrest Rao Anwar.
Police has registered an FIR No.40/2018 against Rao and eight others under Anti-Terrorism Act. The extra judicial killing of 27-year old guy in the fake encounter on January 13 triggered public outcry on social media that prompted the SC to take suo moto notice while the government formed Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the case. The FIA officials posted at the immigration counter at Benazir International Airport, Rawalpindi, foiled his attempt to flee abroad.
The JIT findings suggested that Rao conducted as many as 745 encounters in the last seven years in which 444 people including Naqeebullah were killed. The Jirga camp setup by Mehsud Tribe in Sohrab Goth to express solidarity with the family of the deceased has so far received 440 complaints of missing persons. They also announced countrywide sit-ins till the arrest of Rao.
IGP Sindh AD Khowaja has also sought assistance of intelligence agencies in nabbing Anwar besides ordering police to carryout raids in various parts of Islamabad, Peshawar and interior Sindh.