Sahiwal (Staff Report): At least four persons, including two women, were killed in police firing in the Qadirabad area of Sahiwal on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), the officials signalled a car and a motorcycle to stop near Sahiwal Toll Plaza.
The statement added that the (alleged) terrorists retaliated by firing at the CTD officials following which a shootout ensued.
When the firing stopped, four people were found dead, as a result of firing by their own accomplices, while three terrorists had fled the scene, CTD statement said.
Three terrorists, identified as Shahid Jabbar, Abdul Rehman, and their accomplice, managed to escape, the statement added. The CTD said that the operation was conducted as continuation of the one in Faisalabad on January 16.
According to eyewitnesses, the CTD officials did not stop the vehicle, instead, opened fire without warning. They added that the passengers in the car did not have any weapons, and the police firing was unmotivated.
The eyewitnesses further said that the children while speaking to them at a nearby petrol station claimed that the “police killed their parents”.
They added that the children were first taken to a police station before being shifted to an ‘undisclosed location’ by the CTD officials.
Prime Minister Imran Khan took immediate notice of the case and demanded immediate inquiry report.
Earlier, spokesperson of the Punjab police said that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Amjad Javed Saleemi has sought a report from the regional police officer regarding the incident.
The spokesperson announced that a Joint Investigative Team (JIT) has been formed to probe the alleged shootout. The JIT headed by DIG Zulfiqar Hameed will comprise members of ISI, MI and IB, and will present its report within three days.
Later, the relatives and neighbours of the deceased blocked Ferozpur road to record their protest over the alleged extra judicial killing of the family. They threatened to prolong the protest till the immediate action against the officials involved in the firing incident.