Sahiwal Encounter Case: Government to challenge ATC verdict acquitting suspects

The govt. will now challenge the ACT verdict that acquitted all 6 suspects a day ago on the benefit of the doubt.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Friday that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Punjab government to submit an appeal against the verdict handed down by a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) acquitting all suspects in the Sahiwal encounter case.

Informing with govt. the decision, Dr. Awan in a tweet said the premier had also instructed the authorities to investigate weaknesses and shortfalls in the case presented by the complainant pleading the case.

In her next tweet, the special assistant to the premier said that the whole country had seen the video of the parents being shot in front of their children. She further added, “The government is committed to providing justice to [these] innocent children. If their family doesn’t become the plaintiff, then the state will act as the plaintiff in the case.”

On Thursday, the ATC had acquitted all six personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the charge of killing four persons in an alleged encounter earlier this year, giving them the benefit of doubt.

The court dismissed the statements given by 49 witnesses including victim Zeeshan’s brother Ehtisham and children of Khalil. The witnesses refused to identify the suspects before the court.

Sahiwal Encounter Case: Anti-terrorism court acquits all suspects on benefit of doubt