Karachi killing: Guilty Rangers must be punished, says daily
June 11th, 2011 - 6:51 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, June 11 (IANS) The Sindh Rangers personnel, who gunned down an alleged robber in a Karachi park, committed a wanton and unjustified killing and must be punished to the extent provided by law, a Pakistani daily demanded Saturday.
“The initial government report has already indicted the Rangers and according to the video footage of the incident, the number and position of the Rangers clearly show they were in do danger of attack from the man,” an editorial in the Urdu daily Jang said.
It called for an impartial inquiry into the incident. Sarfaraz Shah, 25, was shot dead by two Sindh Rangers Wednesday evening outside the Benazir Shaheed Park after he was allegedly caught snatching cash and valuables from visitors.
Footage released by news channels showed Shah was unarmed and was shot from a very close range. The video clips also reportedly showed he was pleading for mercy.
“The incident of the youth being shot in cold blood has evoked condemnation all over the country. The president, prime minister, parliament, Sindh government, political leaders and the Supreme Court too have condemned the incident, while this extra-judicial killing has led to strong anger and revulsion among the common people,” the editorial said.
It said officers heading the Rangers and other armed security forces - and even the army - must ensure that their personnel never take the law into their own hands, in any circumstances, “because this will remove the respect in people’s hearts for these forces and create a gulf that will never be bridged.”
“Officers of the army and the paramilitary forces must give this issue the importance it deserves,” the editorial added.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has already sought removal of top officials following the killing.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary Friday ordered the removal of Sindh Rangers Director General Maj. Gen. Chaudhry Ejaz and Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Leghari within three days.
The two officials should have resigned after the incident, Chaudhary remarked.
Meanwhile, Rangers authorities Friday handed over the two accused personnel to the police.
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Tags: alleged robber, armed security, benazir, chaudhry, chief justice iftikhar, close range, cold blood, common people, daily jang, ejaz, government report, impartial inquiry, news channels, paramilitary forces, revulsion, shaheed, sindh government, valuables, video footage, wednesday evening