Rehman Malik-led Senate body seeks judicial commission on Sahiwal incident

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday demanded a judicial probe into the Sahiwal tragedy in which three family members were shot dead by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

Senate Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Senator Rehman Malik presided over the session which demanded formation of a judicial commission on the incident.

The session has also put forth 11 questions for the inspector general of Punjab police and interior secretary. “Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will be summoned if needed,” said Senator Rehman Malik, the head of the committee.

“Imran Khan as the interior minister should inform us whether Daesh has been operating in the country,” he went on to say.

The committee also agreed that if the Islamic State Group is operating in Pakistan, the information should be made public and the name of the agency that identified Zeeshan as a terrorist should also be shared.

“If the deceased stopped their car when the CTD officials approached, then why were they shot dead?” he asked further.

“Why did police kill four people, despite of no resistance from their side?” the committee asked.

“Was the 13-year-old girl killed to eliminate the eyewitness of the incident?” the senator said.

In an earlier press conference, the Punjab law minister said counter-terrorism officials were targeting Zeeshan, a friend and neighbour of the deceased Khalil, who the minister said had alleged links with Daesh.

The committee also maintained that police’s vicious and out-of-control behavior should not be spared.