The Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case has reached another major development, with an Anti-Terrorism Court acquitting seven remaining accused.
The Karachi ATC cleared the suspects on Saturday, citing a lack of evidence against them. The latest verdict brings the total number of accused acquitted in the case to 25.
The acquitted suspects include former SHO Amanullah Marwat, Shoaib Shooter, Guda Hussain, Sadaqat Hussain, Riaz Ahmed, Raja Shamim and Mohsin Abbas.
Defence Points to Lack of Witness Testimony
Following the acquittals, the defence counsel highlighted the evidence presented during the proceedings. The lawyer noted that not a single witness had testified before the court that the encounter was staged.
Meanwhile, the prosecution told the court that the seven accused had remained absconders. The seven suspects surrendered after the ATC announced its verdict.
Rao Anwar and 18 Others Previously Acquitted
The prosecution had already seen 18 other accused acquitted during earlier hearings in the case. Former SSP Malir Rao Anwar was among those acquitted previously, along with other police officers and personnel.
With Saturday’s decision, all 25 accused nominated in the case have been acquitted. The latest development comes eight years after Naqeebullah Mehsud was killed in Karachi.
His death triggered nationwide protests and brought intense attention to the actions of former SSP Rao Anwar and his team.
What Happened to Naqeebullah Mehsud?
Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old native of Waziristan, was also known as Naseemullah. He was among four people killed on January 13, 2018, in an encounter involving police personnel.
At the time, the incident was presented as an encounter involving terrorism suspects. However, a subsequent inquiry committee examined the circumstances surrounding Naqeebullah’s death.
The committee was headed by CTD Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi and later submitted its report to the Supreme Court. The inquiry report confirmed that Naqeebullah had been killed in a fake encounter.
Case Proceedings Continued for Years
An FIR was registered against Rao Anwar and his associates after they failed to appear before investigators. Following the formation of the inquiry committee, Anwar and most members of his encounter team went into hiding.
In March 2019, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi indicted Rao Anwar and other suspects in the murder case. The accused denied all charges at the time of their indictment.
Later, in January 2023, an Anti-Terrorism Court acquitted all accused, including former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, in the high-profile case.
The court said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against Anwar and the other accused.
Seven More Acquitted in Latest Verdict
The latest acquittals have now brought the case involving all 25 nominated accused to another significant point. The court’s decision centred on the evidence presented against the remaining seven suspects.
With their acquittal, no accused nominated in the case remains convicted in the proceedings described in the latest verdict.
The case, which began after Naqeebullah’s killing in 2018, has therefore continued to draw attention to the evidence and legal proceedings surrounding his death.
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