By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: A jirga has imposed a fine of 33 million rupees on 18 police officers, including an SI, ASI, and constables, over the killing of two youths in a fake encounter in Shikarpur.
The jirga was held in the village of Farid Jatoi under the chairmanship of Amin Buledi. It concerned the deaths of Amjad Luhar and Murtaza Jatoi, who were killed by police in Shikarpur seven months ago in what authorities described as an encounter.
The total fine of 33 million rupees will be paid by the police to the families of the victims in three instalments. Twelve of the 18 officers involved had already been dismissed from service.
During the proceedings, Gulzar, the father of Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, and the brother of Jadal Jatoi, former in-charge of One Five Shikarpur police post, gave statements before the jirga committee.
After hearing both sides, the jirga concluded that the officers had unlawfully killed the youths in a staged police encounter.
The incident occurred within the limits of Store Ganj police station. Murtaza Jatoi, a resident of Ghulam Farid Jatoi village, and his friend Amjad Ali Luhar were shot dead by police in what was later found to be a fabricated encounter.
Following a court order, the IGP Sindh set up a probe committee led by SSP Shikarpur. The investigation confirmed that the encounter had no legal justification, leading to the dismissal of 12 officers, including an SHO, an SI, and two head constables.
The SSP’s report noted that the actions of the officers had severely damaged the reputation of the police. It described their behaviour as irresponsible and negligent, and said their unprofessional conduct brought shame to the department. The dismissed officers include SHO Noor Muhammad Soomro, ASI Nadeem Hussain Ansari, Senior WHC Muhammad Daim Lashari, Javed Ahmed Malano, Jadal Kosh, Wakeel Burro, Liaqat Ali Jakro, Shahid Dayo, Abdul Ghaffar Burro, Khaliqdad Brohi, Kamran Sethar, and Siraj Ahmed Lodro.
