Islamabad sit-in for Naqeeb called off

ISLAMABAD -  The days-long sit-in demanding justice for the extrajudicial killing of Waziristan native Naqeebullah Mehsud ended on Saturday after the demands of the protesters were accepted by the government, said a notification, reported a private TV channel.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ameer Muqam met with the protesters and convinced them to end the protest.

The notification added that the sit-in will resume if the government fails to take concrete steps to ensure their demands are met.

The demands include the arrest of fugitive cop Rao Anwar, wanted for the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi, and ensuring that justice is served in the case.

Scores of people were staging a sit-in for over a week in the capital to demand the arrest of culprits in Naqeebullah’s murder.

Naqeebullah, a 27-year-old native of Waziristan was among three others who were accused of being terrorists and killed on the orders of Malir SSP Rao Anwar, in what was later termed a fake encounter. Following claims of innocence from Naqeebullah’s family, an inquiry committee was formed which cleared the 27-year-old of any wrongdoing. An FIR was registered against Anwar and others in the case. Since then, Rao Anwar has been in hiding.

PASHTOON RALLY BACKS ISLAMABAD SIT-IN

Staff Reporter from Quetta adds: Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga yesterday took out a big rally in the provincial capital in favour of their demands.

The rally which took out from the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation ended at the press club where the speakers hailing from various political parties addressed the participants.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with the demands of those who have been staging a sit-in Islamabad for the last nine days.

Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) lawmakers, Senator Usman Kakar, MNA Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan, Dr Hamid Khan Achakzai MPA, Nasrullah Zeray MPA and Arifa Siddiqui led the rally.

The leaders of the rally, addressing the participants, vehemently demanded arrest of Rao Anwar, the police officer who was behind the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in a fake police encounter in Karachi.

Senator Usman Kakar said they fully support the demands of Islamabad sit-in and urge the government to accept the same.

The Pashtoons are being subjected to violence in every nook of the country, asserted Usman Kakar, adding the Radd-ul-Fasaad was launched to wipe out terrorism, but it was turned against Pashtoons and Naqeebullah Mehsud was the last victim of it.

Kakar also criticised the establishment for promoting policies against Pashtoons, Baloch and Sindhis. Kakar said they would no more keep mum over injustices and brutalities.

PkMAP MPA Hamid Khan Achakzai strongly condemned the Centre for treating the people of Balochistan as terrorists for the last four decades.

They would fully cooperate with the government in the arrest of killers of Mashal Khan and Naqeebullah Mehsud, he said.

The Pashtoon long march began from Dera Islamail Khan to pressurise the government to accept their five demands.

The marchers who set out on foot on January 2 reached Islamabad National Press Club on February 1 after passing through various districts of Darra Adam Khel, Pashawar, Charsada, Mardan, Swabi and Tarnol.

Meanwhile, Adviser to Prime Minister Amir Muqam read out a notification in which it had been mentioned that all the five demands of the protesters had been accepted.

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