SAHIWAL: Four people including two women were killed and a child was injured during an alleged police encounter by Sahiwal police on Saturday, reported ARY News.
According to ARY News correspondent, the child, Muneeba, who was present in the car at the time of the incident said the people killed were her parents.
He added that the alleged encounter has turned into a suspicious incident and the Sahiwal police is denying to comment on it. “This is a CTD operation and they can relay accurate details,” said the regional police officer.
Sources familiar with the incident said the Sahiwal police mistook the family travelling to Lahore as kidnappers.
Another child, Omair Khalil, in his initial statement said his father offered money to the people in return for not shooting at their car. “They killed my father and took the children away.”
CTD’s version of events
The Counter Terrorism Officials relayed that a car was signaled to stop along with a bike near Sahiwal Toll Plaza but the alleged terrorists resorted to firing, adding that three terrorists were able to flee away. “This incident was a continuity of the Jan 16 operation carried out in Faisalabad.”
IG Punjab takes notice
According to police officials, Inspector General Punjab Police Amjad Javed Saleemi has taken a notice of the aforementioned incident and directed the regional police officer to carry out an inquiry at the earliest.
On his recommendation, a joint investigation team headed by Deputy Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed and comprising of intelligence agency representatives has been formed to probe the incident.
The IG Punjab added that action will be taken against the involved police officers if the deceased persons do not turn out to be terrorists.
Eyewitnesses version of incident
Eyewitnesses relayed that police officers began firing at a car from behind, adding that no weapons were recovered from the car nor did anyone from the car engage in retaliatory firing.
The eyewitness said one deceased woman aged around 40 whereas the injured child was around 13 years old.
CM Punjab takes notice
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Ali Buzdar has also taken notice of the incident. It is pertinent to note that the media is not allowed access to the children who are with CTD officials.
The bodies have been shifted to Lahore whereas the injured child was shifted to the civil hospital.
