Conflicting versions of Sahiwal shootout spark accusations of police brutality

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Relatives and local residents block a main road to protest the killing of a family by counter-terrorism officers in Lahore on Sunday. Authorities in Pakistan have arrested counter-terrorism police officers after they killed a middle-aged couple, their 13-year-old daughter and another man in what the police initially claimed was a shootout with insurgents. (AP)
Updated 22 January 2019
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Conflicting versions of Sahiwal shootout spark accusations of police brutality

  • Officials say four killed on Saturday fired first, relatives claim innocence
  • Police spokeswoman says investigation team will submit report on Tuesday

LAHORE: A Pakistani police spokeswoman said on Monday an investigation team was recording statements of witnesses and working to identify security officials involved in the killing of four people, including a woman and a twelve-year-old child, in an encounter with a suspected militant that has sparked nationwide rage over extrajudicial killings and police impunity.

Officials from the counter-terrorism department (CTD) in Punjab initially described Saturday’s shootout as a successful operation against Daesh-linked militants, including two women, who opened fire when police tried to stop their car near the city of Sahiwal.

But the official story soon began to unravel when the couple’s three children who survived the shooting said the family had been traveling from Punjab’s capital city of Lahore to attend a wedding in the south of the province when they were stopped near Sahiwal by authorities who opened fire at their car.

Their mother Nabila, grocery store owner father Muhammad Khalil, 12-year-old sister Areeba and a family friend Zeeshan Javed were killed on the spot. The CTD said their target was Javed, a local Daesh leader involved in killings and abductions.

As the official narrative became further compromised by CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts that showed the deceased party had never opened fire, a joint investigation team headed by Punjab Additional Inspector General Ejaz Shah and comprising officials from three leading intelligence agencies was dispatched to Sahiwal on Monday. They spent the day recording statements of eyewitnesses and police officials and collecting evidence from the crime scene.

“A joint investigation team is investigating the crime scene in Sahiwal,” Punjab police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghazanfar told Arab News. “They are trying to identify the CTD officials and also recording statements of witnesses.”

“The JIT will submit its report by Tuesday evening after which the investigation will take its direction,” she added.

Staged encounters – a practice where police claim the victim was killed in a gunfight though they were summarily executed – are not uncommon in Pakistan. Abusers are rarely held to account.

Last year, a civil rights movement grew out of the police killing of a 27-year-old man in the port city of Karachi who police said was a Taliban militant but who turned out to be a shopkeeper and aspiring model with no links to militants. Police in Punjab too are notorious for staged encounters.

A statement issued by the CTD said suspected militants in Punjab routinely travelled with families to avoid police checking.

The CTD’s version of events, as recorded in the police first information report, said officials from the department signalled for a white Suzuki car and a motorcycle to stop near the Sahiwal Toll Plaza: “First, the terrorists riding the motorcycle started firing at the CTD officials who retaliated with firing too. Once the firing stopped, four people were found dead in the car while three terrorists had fled the scene."

But a cellphone camera recording by a passerby showed that a car carrying seven people including children was intercepted by CTD officials on the main highway near Sahiwal who then sprayed the vehicle with bullets.

Local news media also contradicted CTD officials and reported, citing eyewitnesses, that the traveling family never opened fire on the police and no weapons were recovered from their vehicle.

“According to the CTD, the operation was carried out on the basis of string intelligence reports,” Punjab law minister Raja Basharat said in a press conference on Sunday. “Zeehsan [Javed] was associated with a Daesh network which had killed police officials in [the city of] Faisalabad and ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] officials in [the city of] Multan. The car he was using to carry Khalil’s family remained under the use of the terrorists,” he added, saying authorities had CCTV footage to back their claims that Javed was involved with Daesh.

Police have yet to release this footage.

On Monday, the deceased family members and Javed were laid to rest at a local graveyard in the Kahna area of Lahore amid shrieking, sobbing and prayers by relatives and neighbours who demanded strict action against the CTD.

According to Muhammad Jalil, the brother of the deceased Khalil, CTD officials took off with the four bodies after the shootout and left the three surviving children, including two who were injured, at a gas station from where they were recovered by local police.  

“The family was going to attend a wedding ceremony when the CTD attacked them,” Jalil told Arab News. “We still want to know: what was their crime?”

Jalil was also on his way to the wedding and was following Khalil’s car in his own vehicle. In a report registered with police, he said: “My brother Khalil and other family members were going to attend the wedding of a cousin when 16 CTD official (10 uniformed and 6 in plain clothes) forced Khalil’s car to stop near Qadirabad and fired indiscriminately, as the result of which my brother Khalil, his wife Nabeela, friend Zeehsan, daughter Areeba died, while son Muhammad Omair, 9, daughter Hadia, 8, received bullet injuries and Muniba, 4, remained safe.”

Police were initially reluctant to register a case against the CTD officials on Jalil’s complaint but protests by locals in Sahiwal and Lahore, who closed down major city roads, compelled authorities to register a case.  

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also visited the injured children in hospital and offered Rs20 million ($144,000) as compensation.

But family members have rejected the offers of money.

“The government has offered us compensation but we offer them double of what they have offered us to get us justice,” Khalil’s nephew Qasim Butt told Arab News after the funeral. “We are ready to sell all our property for this purpose.”

“I don’t know what I will tell the young cousins who were deprived of their parents; where their parents have gone and why?” he said. “Little Hadia keeps repeating that police killed her mama and baba [father]. Omair, who received a bullet in his thigh, also keeps crying.”

The prime minister too demanded answers, saying in a tweet that “exemplary punishment” would be accorded to the guilty and that he would personally review and reform the structure of Punjab police.

“The episode tells us about police culture, training and mindset,” former Punjab chief minister and professor Hasan Askar Rizvi told Arab News. “Shooting at somebody is the last option for policemen but in this case, they opted for it as the first one.”

He said even if all the people in the car were militants, “they were empty-handed and could have been arrested alive.”

“Catching a terrorist alive is always preferred by professional security officials as live terrorists can help police break an entire network,” Rizvi said. “Police here need reforms and training. This culture of extrajudicial killings must end.”


Trump hosts Pakistan army chief for unprecedented lunch, confirms Iran discussed

Updated 19 June 2025
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Trump hosts Pakistan army chief for unprecedented lunch, confirms Iran discussed

  • This was the first time in years that a Pakistani army chief was hosted by a sitting US president at the White House
  • Munir was widely expected to press President Trump not to enter Israel’s war with Iran and to seek a ceasefire

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted Pakistan’s army chief for lunch in an unprecedented White House meeting, after which he told reporters he was “honored” to meet Field Marshal General Asim Munir and that the two had discussed the ongoing Iran-Israel crisis.

This was the first time in many years that a Pakistani army chief was hosted by a sitting US president at the White House, highlighting Washington’s renewed interest in maintaining influence in South Asia as regional tensions flare.

After the schedule for the lunch was announced this week, Pakistani media widely speculated that Munir would press Trump not to enter Israel’s war with Iran and to seek a ceasefire. A section of Pakistan’s embassy in Washington represents Iran’s interests in the United States as Tehran does not have diplomatic relations with the US.

Munir’s White House meeting during the ongoing Mideast conflict has also fueled speculation in Islamabad that Washington could push Pakistan to align more openly with the US position, which has historically been supportive of Israel. Such pressure could complicate Pakistan’s delicate balancing act in the Middle East, where it maintains close ties with Iran and other Gulf partners and sympathizes with the Palestinian cause but seeks to avoid getting dragged into regional rivalries that could inflame tensions at home.

“Well, they [Pakistan] know Iran very well, better than most, and they’re not happy about anything [Iran-Israel conflict],” Trump said in response to a question by a reporter after his meeting with Munir on whether Iran came up in the discussion.

“It’s not that they’re better with Israel. They [Pakistan] know them both actually, but they probably, maybe, know Iran better, but they [Pakistan] see what’s going on. And he [Field Marshal General Asim Munir] agreed with me.”

Trump did not specify what the Pakistani general had agreed with him on, and went on to talk about last month’s military conflict between India and Pakistan that the US president has publicly claimed credit for ending with a ceasefire.

Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan engaged in their fiercest military conflict in decades between May 7-10, exchanging drones, missiles and artillery for nearly four days before Trump announced he had brokered a truce.

“The reason I had him [Munir] here, I wanted to thank him for not going into the war [with India], just, you know, ending the war,” Trump said, also giving credit to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “So, I was honored to meet him [Munir] today.”

Tensions between Israel and Iran have spiked sharply since last Friday when Israeli forces struck multiple targets including Iranian nuclear sites and senior officials. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israeli territory, raising fears of a wider Middle East war that could threaten global energy supplies and regional stability.

Pakistan, which shares a long border with Iran and maintains historic ties with Tehran, has repeatedly called for de-escalation and a ceasefire in the region. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistan’s Geo TV that Munir’s White House visit would give the army chief a chance to share Pakistan’s perspective on the conflict and push Washington to help prevent further escalation.

Pakistan’s military plays a key role in shaping the country’s foreign policy, and Munir’s high-profile White House invitation is being seen as part of Washington’s broader effort to recalibrate ties with Islamabad, a vital but often difficult ally for the US in South Asia.

Local media in Pakistan reported that Munir’s visit had been arranged weeks in advance. Analysts say the rare top-level contact underscores how the US wants to maintain strategic leverage in a region shaped by the rivalries of three nuclear powers — China, India and Pakistan — and rising instability in the Middle East.


Pakistan secures $1 billion in ADB-backed financing from Middle Eastern banks

Updated 18 June 2025
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Pakistan secures $1 billion in ADB-backed financing from Middle Eastern banks

  • The loan aims to strengthen the country’s fiscal resilience, support reform momentum
  • The government says the deal signals renewed trust in Pakistan’s economic trajectory

KARACHI: Pakistan has signed a $1 billion syndicated term finance facility backed by Middle Eastern banks, marking its return to the region’s financial markets after more than two years, the finance ministry said on Wednesday.
The five-year facility is partially guaranteed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Policy-Based Guarantee program, which is linked to fiscal reforms undertaken by Pakistan to improve resource mobilization and economic stability.
The financing by the Middle Eastern banks is structured across Islamic and conventional tranches, with 89 percent of the total amount raised through a Shariah-compliant facility.
“This is a landmark transaction for the Government of Pakistan that demonstrates strong support from leading financiers in the region,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
It informed that Dubai Islamic Bank acted as the sole Islamic global coordinator, while Standard Chartered Bank served as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner.
Other financiers include Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank as mandated lead arranger, and Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ajman Bank and Pakistan’s Habib Bank Limited (HBL) as arrangers.
The deal marks the first time a facility has been backed by an ADB Policy-Based Guarantee linked to specific reform measures undertaken by a member country.
According to the ministry, the ADB’s support helped Pakistan attract significant interest from regional lenders and re-enter global capital markets at a critical time for the economy.
The government said the success of the transaction signals renewed trust in Pakistan’s fiscal outlook and macroeconomic trajectory, marking the beginning of a new partnership with Middle Eastern banks.
Pakistan, which has faced persistent external financing gaps in recent years, has relied on friendly nations and global lenders to stabilize its balance of payments and rebuild investor confidence.
The ADB-backed facility is intended to help strengthen fiscal resilience while supporting economic reform momentum.


Pakistan reports first Congo virus death of 2025 in Karachi

Updated 18 June 2025
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Pakistan reports first Congo virus death of 2025 in Karachi

  • Virus is transmitted through tick bites or direct contact with blood of infected animals
  • Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan reported 23 Congo virus cases in 2024

KARACHI: A 42-year-old man lost his life after contracting the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), marking the first confirmed fatality from the virus in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province this year, the health department said on Wednesday.

The fatality rate for the Congo virus ranges from 10 percent to 40 percent, depending on the quality of health care, timeliness of treatment and the patient’s overall health, according to the World Health Organization.

The virus, which is endemic in parts of Africa, Europe and Asia, is primarily transmitted through tick bites or contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals.

“First case of Congo virus [has been] reported in Sindh,” the Sindh Health Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

“42-year-old male was a resident of District Malir,” it continued. “The test report came out positive on June 16 and the patient passed away on June 17.”

Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province reported 23 Congo virus cases in 2024, with five deaths since January last year.

Local medical practitioners said most cases were diagnosed during the summer, when the likelihood of the virus spreading increases, particularly around the Eid Al-Adha festival.

The Islamic holiday, marked by the mass slaughter of animals, typically leads to greater human-animal interaction and exposure to infected livestock.

Pakistan witnessed its first case of Congo virus in 1976 and remained a major victim for years, according to the National Library of Medicine.

The country faces major challenges in combating Congo virus every year due to its specific geographical position and a majority of the population being involved with animal husbandry, it added.

There is no approved vaccine for its prevention.

The European Medicines Agency in May 2024 approved a Phase I clinical trial in Sweden for a DNA-based vaccine candidate, N-pVAX1, targeting the Congo virus.

Separately, the University of Oxford in August 2023 launched a Phase I trial of its ChAdOx2 CCHF vaccine, based on the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 platform, to assess safety and immune response.


Pakistan rescues injured Indian sailor amid post-war tensions with New Delhi

Updated 18 June 2025
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Pakistan rescues injured Indian sailor amid post-war tensions with New Delhi

  • Pakistan evacuates the injured sailor from a Liberian-flagged tanker with an all-Indian crew
  • Rare humanitarian gesture follows recent Pakistan-India war amid strained diplomatic ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday evacuated an injured Indian sailor from an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea, in a rare humanitarian gesture weeks after the two countries fought a brief four-day war that further strained already tense relations.

The medical evacuation was coordinated by the Pakistan Navy’s Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Center (JMICC), which received a distress call from the Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker MT HIGH LEADER, carrying an all-Indian crew.

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) deployed a vessel and transferred the injured crew member to a hospital in Karachi for emergency treatment.

“The successful medical evacuation is yet another testament to the operational readiness and responsiveness of Pakistan’s maritime safety apparatus,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.

“The swift execution reflects Pakistan Navy’s resolve to fulfill its international obligations for the safety of life at sea, irrespective of the nationality of the seafarers involved,” it added.

The incident comes at a time of high diplomatic friction between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Last month’s military confrontation, involving missile, drone and artillery exchanges, marked one of the most serious escalations in recent years.

Pakistan has repeatedly called for the revival of a composite dialogue process to resolve long-standing issues, including the Kashmir dispute, cross-border militancy and a water-sharing arrangement under the Indus Waters Treaty.

India, however, has resisted any engagement so far.

The JMICC, which coordinated the evacuation, serves as Pakistan’s central maritime emergency response hub and regularly liaises with both national and international stakeholders.


Pakistan reduces sales tax on imported solar panels from 18% to 10% amid parliamentary pushback

Updated 19 June 2025
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Pakistan reduces sales tax on imported solar panels from 18% to 10% amid parliamentary pushback

  • The government proposed 18% GST on imported solar panels during budget 2025-26
  • Pakistan imported 17 gigawatts of solar panels in 2024, twice the previous year’s volume

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said the general sales tax (GST) on imported solar panels had been reduced from 18% to 10% for the current year, following concerns raised by a parliamentary finance body.

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue had urged the government a day earlier to withdraw the proposed 18% GST on imported solar panels, noting that some stakeholders had begun stockpiling equipment ahead of the federal budget to avoid the new levy.

The country’s proposed federal budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year included an 18% GST on the import and local supply of solar panels and related equipment, prompting concern from industry stakeholders and clean energy advocates.

Pakistan imported 17 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels in 2024, twice the volume recorded the year before, to meet rising consumer demand, according to the Global Electricity Review 2025.

“The 18 percent on top of 46% was an additional burden,” Dar told the National Assembly.

“So, regarding this, after consultations and deliberations, we have decided that this year we will keep a 10% sales tax and not 18%.”

Dar highlighted how this was the most debated subject after the budget was announced.

He also explained that around 46% of components used in solar installations in Pakistan were imported while the remaining 54% including inverters and other equipment were locally sourced and already subject to standard taxation.

Solar energy has supplied 25% of Pakistan’s grid electricity so far this year, placing the country among fewer than 20 globally that generate at least a quarter of their monthly power from solar farms.

Industry stakeholders and clean energy activists had warned that the added cost in tax could slow the rapid adoption of rooftop solar systems by households and businesses, potentially undermining national targets for expanding the share of renewables in the country’s energy mix.

Pakistan increased its solar electricity generation at a rate more than three times the global average in 2025, driven by a surge in solar capacity imports that were over five times higher than in 2022, according to data from Ember, a UK-based energy think tank.

This rapid growth in both capacity and output has propelled solar energy from being the country’s fifth-largest power source in 2023 to the top spot in 2025.