ISLAMABAD: All records relating to the killing of 21-year-old Osama Satti early on Jan 2 have been sealed by the capital police under the directives of senior officers after contradictions were found in them, Dawn has learnt.

Police officers on condition of anonymity told Dawn that the records were sealed as it contained contradictions.

Two of the records showed that the police had succeeded to intercept and stop the car of the young man. According to the communication record, a man in a white car was heading towards Golra on Kashmir Highway after committing a criminal activity and a directive was issued to cordon off the road.

The record showed the car heading towards Police Lines from G-10 signal, sources quoted the record. A sub-inspector, who was among the officials who shot the youth, is quoted in the record as saying that they had intercepted and stopped the car near G-10 signal.

Another record made at 2am revealed that the car was intercepted and stopped at G-10 signal. It continued with the police officials firing at the car and resulting in the death of the rider.

According to another record also made at 2am, the police fired at the car in G-10. The car was heading towards Peshawar Mor.

Meanwhile, a joint investigation team (JIT) constituted by Chief Commissioner Islamabad Amer Ali Ahmed started probing the case on Monday.

The JIT recorded the statements of the five police officials arrested in the case.

The team is headed by Superintendent of Police Saddar Zone Sarfaraz Virk and consists of SDPO Ramna Zulfiqar Ahmed, DSP investigation Nawaz Bhatti, Hakim Khan, SHO Ramna Turabul Hassan and representatives of intelligence agencies.

The team also visited the crime spot and examined the area. The car of the youth was also physically examined with the assistance of National Forensic and Science Agency (NFSA).

The NFSA will submit a report to the JIT in a week on bullets fired at the vehicle and their marks.

Moreover, a judicial inquiry into the incident has also been started on the direction of the commissioner.

Additional District Magistrate Rana Mohammad Waqas is conducting the inquiry and on Monday recorded the statements of the police officials besides and examined the crime spot.

In March 2020, officials of the capital police murdered two persons – Osama Satti and Amir Waheed – and injured two others - Shaharyar and Faisal Malik.

There was no judicial inquiry and police still claim that they were killed and injured by the firing of a robber, who was also a policeman.

When contacted, Faisal Satti and Mazhar Satti, the family members of the two victims, told Dawn that police have now admitted their involvement and decided to pay them blood money and compensation.

They said senior police officers visited the family many times after five months of the incidents and tendered apologies. They also made a challan for court trial of the police officials and informed the families that weapons used in the incident have been recovered.

They said the senior officials requested the families to settle the issue instead of pursuing the case.

In Nov 2020, a man died in police custody and a judicial inquiry was ordered over the incident, which is still pending.

Police officers allegedly involved in the incident were suspended and arrested and a case was registered against them.

Inspector General of Police Mohammad Amir Zulfiqar Khan and his spokesman Zia Bajwa could not be contacted for their comments over the latest incident.

Parliamentary bodies condemn killing

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior at a meeting with Senator A. Rehman Malik on Monday condemned the murder of the youth by the capital police.

The meeting was attended among others by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

Senator Malik said Islamabad police were considered to be ideal police but such incidents tarnish the image of the entire institution. He said the incident should be investigated from all angles and a report be submitted to the committee within 10 days.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior directed the police to share details of the report of the JIT with the parliamentary body.

At a meeting presided over by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, the committee was briefed by Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Waqaruddin Syed about incident.

He said a police mobile van received a wireless message that a robbery incident had taken place in H-11 and the culprits managed to escape in a white vehicle.

“Unfortunately, Osama Satti too was driving a white car with tinted glasses. The police officials aware of the robbery incident tried to stop the vehicle. But the car did not stop, so the police opened fire to stop it which resulted in the death of the youth,” the DIG said.

The NA body was assured that the investigation would be conducted purely on merit. Legal heirs of the deceased also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, Jannuary 5th, 2021