Four including two women killed in alleged CTD encounter in Sahiwal

CTD officials have claimed that three other terrorists managed to flee during the chase.

SAHIWAL (Dunya News) – Four persons including two women were shot dead on Saturday by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officers in a purportedly high-speed pursuit in Qadirabad area of Sahiwal city.

However, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have killed four ‘terrorists’ including two women in an intelligence based operation (IBO) in Sahiwal district.

A child travelling in the car with the deceased also sustained minor injuries.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab police said the passengers of the car opened fire on officers who were trying to intercept the vehicle and a motorcycle on GT Road.

The CTD further claimed that the slain were linked  to a group involved in the abducting of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son and an American citizen. Three ‘terrorists’ including Abdul Rehman and Shahid Jabbar fled from the scene, it added.

According to CTD spokesperson, officers tried to stop a motorcycle and a car at 12 noon when the incident occured.

Furthermore, the CTD has claimed of confiscating explosives and weapons from the car.

Moreover, CTD has stated that officers were investigating into the matter as part of the operation in Faisalabad on January 16.

Eyewitnesses conflicted the CTD’s statements and said the people in the car did not fire at officials. “There were no weapons found with the bodies,” they said.

The eyewitnesses further said that the children while speaking to them at a nearby petrol station claimed that the “police has killed their parents”. “Following the firing incident, the police left the children at the petrol station where they spoke to us. A few minutes later, however, CTD officials returned and took the children with them to an undisclosed location,” the eyewitnesses added.

 Following the incident, Punjab Police spokesperson Nabila Ghazanfar said, “If those killed were innocent citizens, then action will be taken against those who fired at them.”

“IG Punjab has sought a report from the regional police officer regarding the incident,” the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said, “Within one hour, there will be clarity regarding the incident.”

Further, according to sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of the incident and sought a report.

According to reports, three of the deceased were identified as Khalil, Nabeela and Areeba.

A police spokesperson has told the media that CTD officials have taken away their dead bodies.

Later, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took notice of the incident and directed Inspector General of Punjab (IGP) Police Amjad Javed Saleemi to investigate into the incident on the priority basis.