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America blacklists Pakistani ‘Fake Encounter Specialist’

11 December, 2019

By SJA Jafri

WASHINGTON/ KARACHI: According to the experts, human rights activists, historians, victims, present and former high-ups, bureaucrats, government and private institutions, security forces’ officials and sources claimed that it’s too late, but at last, once again, masses, states even United Nations Organizations (UNO) particularly United States of America (USA) would have not only accept the reporting of Press Media of India (PMI)/Messenger but also acknowledged, endorsed, admitted, referred and included the contents of dozens of stories have become the part of their record that have already been flashed in past like many other exclusive news highlighted by the said media outlets.

Once more, not only PMI/Messenger’s stories regarding the target killings in Pakistan especially in Karachi (of Karachiites) proved hundred percent correct but also recognized many contents of breaking stories which were published exclusively like fake encounters of Shia and Muhajir (migrated) people, women’s enforced kidnapping and missing, murdering of young virgin as well as pregnant girls and state terrorism etc.

Sources further revealed that PMI/Messenger another time have set some more standards in world journalistic history and proved its professionalism, standard, impartiality, contribution towards maintaining the regional and global peace, exposing the real criminals, enemies of humanity and involved inhuman activities.

As for as the world media is flashing the news regarding a press release issued by an American department has already been highlighting by Messenger/PMI during last twenty years which may easily be searched through archive.

The United States has blacklisted a former senior Pakistani police officer for allegedly murdering over 400 people in “staged” police encounters.

Apart from Rao Anwar, a former senior superintendent of police (SSP), the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also designated 17 other individuals on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on Tuesday.

“Anwar was reportedly responsible for staging numerous fake police encounters in which individuals were killed by police, and was involved in over 190 police encounters that resulted in the deaths of over 400 people, including the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsood,” read a statement issued by the US Treasury Department.

Naqeebullah Mehsood, a young man from Waziristan region, was killed on January 13, 2018 in Karachi during a fake encounter allegedly staged by Rao. A police inquiry later established the encounter was staged. The extrajudicial killing sparked nationwide outraged with a Pashtoon rights group later using it as a rallying call.

“Anwar helped to lead a network of police and criminal thugs that were allegedly responsible for extortion, land grabbing, narcotics, and murder,” added the US Treasury Department statement.

Other designated individuals are located in Burma, Libya, Slovakia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and South Sudan and were sanctioned for their roles in serious human rights abuse. Additionally, six entities have been blacklisted for being owned or controlled by one of the aforementioned individuals.

“The United States will not tolerate torture, kidnapping, sexual violence, murder, or brutality against innocent civilians,” OFAC Secretary Steven T Mnuchin said. “America is the world leader in combatting human rights abuse and we will hold perpetrators and enablers accountable wherever they operate,” he added.

OFAC Deputy Secretary Justin G Muzinich said, “Treasury’s action focuses on those who have killed, or ordered the killing of innocents who stood up for human rights including journalists, opposition members, and lawyers”.

Rao, perhaps Karachi’s most controversial cop, officially retired from service last year. However, the 37 years he spent with the police service tell the remarkable tale of the changing fortunes of a man willing to take the risks and go the length for his patrons.

Two things that have been a consistent feature of Rao’s tumultuous career are the encounters and accusations of corrupt practices that have dogged him over the years. Despite having faced a number of disciplinary actions and suspensions, the most infamous being in the aftermath of Naqeebullah’s murder, Rao has surreptitiously managed to dodge legal action.

The Treasury Department imposed the same sanctions on Myanmar’s army chief, three other senior Myanmar commanders, as well as 13 other individuals from other countries.

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