KARACHI: In a significant development in the high-profile Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case, the Sindh High Court (SHC) received a formal affidavit from the victim’s son, challenging the acquittal of former SSP Malir Rao Anwar and other accused individuals. The division bench, however, adjourned the hearing of the appeals against the acquittals until the conclusion of the court’s upcoming summer vacation.
The Son’s Affidavit
During the proceedings, Atif Mehsud, the son of the slain youth Naqeebullah Mehsud, submitted his written affidavit to the court. Addressing the legal standing of the appeals, Atif stated that he was a minor at the time of the incident, and his mother could not appear in court due to strict cultural and societal traditions. He further explained that following the passing of his grandfather, who originally pursued the case, his uncle stepped forward to file the appeals against the acquittals.
Background of the Legal Hurdle
This affidavit comes in response to objections raised by the defense counsels representing the former SSP Malir Rao Anwar and his co-accused. The defense had previously challenged the maintainability of the appeals, arguing that Naqeebullah’s brother did not have the legal locus standi (standing) to file them. By submitting the affidavit, Naqeebullah’s son has officially backed the legal battle initiated by his uncle, aiming to counter the defense’s technical objections.
Case History
Naqeebullah Mehsud, an aspiring model from South Waziristan, was killed alongside three others in a staged police encounter in Karachi’s Shah Latif Town in January 2018. An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had previously acquitted Rao Anwar and his subordinates, citing a lack of evidence. The acquittal was subsequently challenged in the Sindh High Court by Naqeebullah’s family, who maintain that the encounter was cold-blooded murder. The SHC is expected to resume regular hearings on the maintainability and merits of the appeals after the summer recess.
