Naqeebullah Murder Case: Court Releases Detailed Acquittal Verdict

News Desk
KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi has formally issued its detailed written verdict explaining the acquittal of former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar and 17 co-accused in the high-profile Naqeebullah Mehsud extrajudicial murder case.
The comprehensive ruling provides the legal grounds for the exoneration, concluding a prolonged judicial proceeding that captivated national attention for years.
According to the detailed judgment, the prosecution failed to present conclusive, irrefutable evidence proving the physical presence or direct involvement of Rao Anwar and his team at the fake encounter site in Shah Latif Town.
The court noted significant loopholes in forensic reports, contradictory witness testimonies, and a lack of digital evidence directly linking the officers to the fatal shooting.
The judge emphasized that judicial decisions must strictly adhere to established legal standards of proof rather than public sentiment or media commentary.
Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old aspiring model and businessman hailing from South Waziristan, was extrajudicially killed along with three others in January 2018 after being falsely framed as a militant.
The tragic incident triggered widespread protests across Pakistan, giving impetus to major civil rights movements and drawing severe global criticism regarding police brutality, systemic corruption, and staged police encounters within local law enforcement agencies.
Following the release of the detailed order, legal representatives for Naqeebullah’s family reiterated their resolve to challenge the ATC’s decision in the Sindh High Court.
Human rights defenders and legal experts contend that an appeal is necessary to ensure justice for extrajudicial murder victims, while advocacy groups continue to urge federal and provincial governments to implement mandatory law enforcement reforms and institutional accountability.