ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 Supreme Court on Friday ordered the State Bank to freeze the bank accounts of on-the-run police officer Rao Anwar, who was declared in contempt of court for failing to appear at the hearing.
The suspended Senior Superintendent of Police is wanted over the extra-judicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old aspiring model. Mehsud was one of four men killed in an encounter with a police team headed by Anwar in Karachi last month. Anwar has claimed that Mehsud was a terrorist involved in several murders who had ties to Daesh.
A courtroom packed with journalists, lawyers, human rights activists and Mehsud鈥檚 relatives heard Allah Dino Khawaja, Inspector General of Sindh Police, tell judges that Anwar had failed to turn up despite promising to attend the court hearing.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar warned: 鈥淗e has lost a great opportunity by not appearing in the court today, the court鈥檚 sympathy for him is over.鈥�
Justice Nisar ordered Anwar鈥檚 bank accounts to be frozen and issued him with a contempt of court notice. He added that Anwar had absconded despite being promised legal assistance by the court.
Anwar鈥檚 protective bail was withdrawn by the three-member bench hearing the case, who hinted that a joint investigation team (JIT) could be set up to investigate the case.
Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence and the Intelligence Bureau were ordered to cooperate with police to track down Anwar and to report their progress at the next hearing.
When asked about progress made so far, Khawaja said Anwar had called him on Wednesday and promised he would attend court. He added that he did not know Anwar鈥檚 exact whereabouts.
鈥淲e will find him one day,鈥� Justice Nisar said, 鈥渘obody can get away with his crimes.鈥�
Counsel for Mehsud鈥檚 family, Faisal Siddiqui, told the court that at least 15 other police officials suspected of involvement in the case were still to be arrested.
Siddiqui added that witnesses did not feel safe in Karachi and wanted to move to other parts of the country. Justice Nisar directed top police officers of all four provinces to protect the witnesses.
Khawaja informed the court that nine out of the 21 accused in the case have been arrested by Sindh Police and all efforts are being made to catch Anwar too.
鈥淵our efforts are not yielding results,鈥� Justice Nisar said.
Talking to Arab News, Mehsud鈥檚 father Khan Mohammed said: 鈥淚 want justice. I want to see Rao Anwar arrested and prosecuted. He has killed my son.鈥�
鈥淎ll government departments and police are cooperating with us,鈥� he said, 鈥渨e hope the killer will be arrested soon.鈥�
The chief justice promised Mehsud鈥檚 family that efforts would be made to arrest Anwar as soon as possible.
A heavy police presence was deployed outside the court in a precautionary measure. The case was adjourned until March 3.