PAKISTAN: FOUR COPS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER FAKE ENCOUNTER

October 30, 2024:

A Chak Jhumra court has sentenced four police personnel, including a head constable, to death and imposed a fine of Rs1 million for their involvement in a fabricated police encounter that occurred six years ago in the Millat Town area, The Tribune reported on October 29, 2024.
The court acquitted an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) who was also implicated in the case.
The ruling was issued by Additional and Sessions Judge Sajida Akhtar, who presided over the case concerning the alleged encounter that took place on August 8, 2018, at approximately 9:00pm near Bagh Wali Pully in Millat Town.
The encounter resulted in the deaths of two residents, Arsalan son of Liaquat and Usman son of Manzoor Hussain, under disputed circumstances.
The police personnel convicted in the case include ASI Javed Akhtar, Head Constable Asghar Ali, Constable Falak Sher, Constable Faisal Rehman, and PQRS employee Waqas.
The court found sufficient evidence to convict Asghar Ali, Waqas, Falak Sher, and Faisal Rehman, sentencing them to death and fining them Rs1 million each.
However, ASI Javed Akhtar was acquitted due to a lack of evidence against him.
The prosecution was initiated by Sajid Mahmood, a resident of 7-J B Panjore, who filed a complaint against the police personnel.
According to the prosecution, the deceased individuals, Arsalan and Usman, were riding a motorcycle and were on their way to Bagh Wali Pully after having shawarma when they were stopped by police employees, who then opened fire, killing them.
After a six-year-long legal battle, the court issued its ruling, leading to the immediate arrest of the four convicted officers, who were subsequently sent to jail to serve their sentences.