The joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the killing of 19-year-old Intizar Ahmed in Karachi's DHA allegedly by Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) personnel has hit a snag, it emerged on Saturday.

Official sources and documents obtained by Dawn revealed that several members of the JIT expressed their reservations over the team's formation, contending that the JIT was constituted by Counter Terrorism Department DIG Amir Farooqi and not by the Sindh home secretary as per relevant rules.

The JIT headed by SSP Intelligence CTD Karachi Pervez Ahmed Chandio was constituted on Friday to investigate the teenager's killing, sources told Dawn. Sources said DIG Farooqi has written a letter to the Sindh home secretary, urging him to issue a ‘formal order’ to establish the JIT.

Separately, Inspector General of Police Sindh A.D. Khowaja assigned the task to supervise the investigation to CTD AIG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi as DIG Farooqi has gone abroad on a 12-day leave.

Farooqi while talking to Dawn confirmed that he was going to Singapore for a "terror-analysis course". He added that the home secretary would only "endorse" the JIT notification earlier issued by him and the same members will continue the probe.

JIT observations

On January 13, Intizar was chased down and shot dead allegedly by nine undercover ACLC personnel after he had reportedly failed to stop his car at a picket.

The JIT members on Saturday visited the crime scene in Defence area. A day earlier, they had recorded statements of eight arrested ACLC personnel, Intizar's father and others.

The sources said that the JIT members in their initial observations noted that ACLC personnel had committed "criminal negligence" and "demonstrated height of unprofessional attitude" with their handling of the situation when Intizar was killed on January 13.

They said three inspectors of the ACLC were present at the crime scene and they did not give any permission to open firing on Intizar’s car during checking. Two of the inspectors later allowed Intizar to go.

In the meantime, two constables — Bilal and Daniyal — without seeking permission from their seniors (inspectors) opened indiscriminate firing on the teenager’s car. Bilal fired 12 bullets and Daniyal six, and one of the bullets fired by the former pierced through a window of the car and struck Intizar on his head.

Both the constables were not a part of the ACLC search and deployment team in the area, the sources told Dawn.

In their statement before the JIT, both Bilal and Daniyal said Inspector Tariq had forgotten his mobile charger and both of them came there to hand it over to him.

Interestingly, both the constables, who were recruited in 2011, were carrying pistols though they were not entitled to do so as pistols are only allotted to personnel of ASI rank and above.