TAXILA: Punjab Inspector General of Police Inam Ghani has ordered an inquiry into alleged encounter by the Hazro police on Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway in which one person was killed and another injured.

According to a notification, an inquiry committee headed by SSP Internal Accountability Bureau (AIB) Abid Shah has been constituted to “ascertain the genuineness or otherwise of the police encounter”.

“The inquiry committee will verify the criminal history of the suspect who was killed in the encounter and ascertain any irregularities and criminal liability of the Hazro police,” it said.

As per police version issued on July 2, after receiving information that a car stolen from Rawalpindi was being shifted to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the police established a picket at Burhan toll plaza near Hassanabdal.

When the car with three persons on board appeared, the police team signalled it to stop. According to the police, those travelling in the car started firing on the police party and escaped.

Afterwards, a party of Hazro police traced the fleeing culprits and managed to stop them.

The police stated that three persons, all residents of Lower Dir, got off the car and once again tried to flee after firing at the police party.

As per the FIR, the suspect who was shot and injured by his own accomplice succumbed to his injuries while another was injured and third one escaped.

Later, notables of the area visited Hazro and also brought the matter into the notice of KP chief minister on whose intervention a case was registered against the policemen under section 302 and 324 PPC within 24 hours. Subsequently they were suspended.

The injured suspect, talking to mediapersons, claimed that the encounter was ‘staged’.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA from Lower Dir Mehboob Shah and KP Assembly member Hamayun Khan visited the office of district police officer, Attock, and apprised the officials of their concerns.

Talking to mediapersons, they said they would ensure that an impartial inquiry was conducted into the alleged encounter.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2021