Killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud: 6 Police Officials Granted Bail in Fake Encounter Case

The Karachi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has granted bail to six police officials, including former SHO Amanullah Marwat, in the high-profile killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud. The decision follows the prosecution’s request to reopen the case, occurring long after the controversial acquittal of former SSP Malir Rao Anwar and 18 other co-accused officials.

The Karachi Anti-Terrorism Court issued a significant ruling regarding the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud. The judge granted bail to former SHO Amanullah Marwat and five other police officials. This list includes Gada Hussain, Sadaqat Hussain, Riaz Ahmed, Raja Shameem, and Mohsin Abbas.

The court set surety bonds at Rs. 100,000 for each individual. This legal shift happened just as the trial reached the final argument stage. The prosecution requested to reopen its side to submit additional evidence, which the court approved. However, the judge ruled that the accused cannot remain in jail indefinitely while the trial remains pending due to these procedural extensions.

Advocate Farzana Mateen argued that the prosecution lacks direct witnesses. She stated that no individual testified that the Naqeebullah Mehsud encounter was fake. The defense maintained that continued detention was unjustified without stronger evidence linking the officials to the crime.

The January 2018 incident originally drew international attention. While Rao Anwar was the primary face of the case, his previous acquittal shifted the legal landscape for the remaining subordinates. These officials, who previously surrendered after being declared absconders, now benefit from the same evidentiary gaps that favored their superiors.

The killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud remains a cornerstone of human rights discussions in Pakistan. Although investigations labeled the shootout a fake encounter, the legal process has faced hurdles. Witnesses have frequently withdrawn statements or failed to support the initial charges.

The prosecution must now utilize the reopened case to present new facts. While Amanullah Marwat and his colleagues are out on bail, they must attend all future hearings. The trial continues to test the strength of Pakistan’s judicial response to staged police encounters.