Joint Investigation Team head Additional Inspector General (AIG) Syed Ijaz Hussain Shah excused himself from presenting a final report of the Sahiwal incident on Tuesday.
“It is not even possible to submit an initial report right now. We will conduct investigations on scientific basis and determine what the truth is,” said Shah while speaking to the media after visiting the incident site and recording statements of eyewitnesses earlier today.
He added that, “Nothing can be said till all things are clear. Six officials of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) are under custody and their statements have been recorded, meanwhile we are collecting evidence,.”
Shah further said that facts can only be ascertained after initial statements are recorded and lab results are received.
It is pertinent to note that Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar relayed that the JIT team investigating the Sahiwal incident will submit its report on Jan 22.
Alleged encounter
Four people including two women were killed in broad daylight on Jan 19 by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials in a shady encounter in Sahiwal. The CTD’s version of events contradicted with what eyewitnesses and the injured children had to say.
On the other hand, Punjab law minister termed the murder as “collateral damage” during the raid to eliminate a terrorist associated with Daesh.
