Sahiwal tragedy: Initial autopsy report of encounter’s victims released

An initial autopsy report the f four people killed in an alleged encounter by Punjab’s counterterrorism police on Saturday has been released, reveals a news source.

According to the report, as the result of firing carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel, driver of the vehicle Zeeshan received 10 bullets, 13-year-old Areeba had been shot with 6 bullets while her mother Nabeela Bibi got 4 bullets and the other man who was the father of the surviving children, Mohammad Khalil sustained 13 bullets.

Two of the three surviving children were also injured. A boy named Umair received a bullet in his right leg, while girl Muneeba’s hand was injured with the window glass which shattered due to firing.

The provincial government has set up a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to lead into the investigation of the incident. Three family members including husband, wife and their teenage daughter along with their friend were killed in what the Punjab police officials had declared a shootout with “terrorists” near Sahiwal.

A video has surfaced online of the alleged encounter. The officials who had also claimed that the victims shot fire at the CTD team and weapons were recovered from their vehicle. While there is no such thing visible in the footage.

In wake of the Sahiwal tragedy on Ferozepur road in Lahore, protests have broken out. People are outraged over this act of CTD and have taken on the road to protest against the killing of four people.

The protests are also doing rounds on social media:

PM Imran Khan has also shown his distressed over the Sahiwal incident. In a tweet Mr. Prime Minister gave his statement saying: Still shocked at seeing the traumatized children who saw their parents shot before their eyes. Any parent would be shocked as they would think of their own children in such a traumatic situation. These children will now be fully looked after by the state as its responsibility.