Abid Boxer yet to be arrested, PA told

LAHORE: The government informed the members of Punjab Assembly Friday that an absconding officer of Punjab Police, Abid Boxer, who allegedly killed hundreds of prisoners by staging fake encounters at the behest of high authorities 20 years ago, was yet to be arrested.

Replying to a point of order by Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah told the House that there had been reports about Interpol arresting Abid Boxer but the international law enforcing agency had not yet informed the Punjab government about his arrest. He said if Interpol informed the Punjab government about his arrest, he would certainly be extradited to the country and brought to the dock for trial and punishment for his crimes. He said the federal government had issued red warrants for Abid Boxer on the request of the Punjab government following surfacing of reports that he had been residing abroad.

Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed had drawn the attention of Speaker Rana Iqbal Khan about the reports appearing a fortnight ago that Abid Boxer had been arrested abroad by Interpol. He asked if the provincial government had taken any measures to arrest and extradite him back to the country for trial of hundreds of killings of innocent people in fake encounters allegedly at the behest of the authorities. He added that the reports mentioned that he had revealed about the identity of those who had been ordering him to kill in cold blood innocent people in fake police encounters to accredit top authorities and physically eliminate opponents.

Later, the House unanimously passed a resolution paying tributes to noted human rights icon and jurist Asma Jahangir, expressing grief over her death. The resolution tabled by Law Minster Rana Sanaullah, stated that the House expressed deep grief over her death and expressed sympathies and condolences with the bereaved family. The resolution praised her for being a courageous lawyer, ardent campaigner of human and women rights, and social worker, adding that her services had also been acknowledged all over the world. She fought for the supremacy of democracy, judiciary, the rule of law and Constitution.

She had remained president of Supreme Court Bar Association and was also awarded with Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the government of Pakistan in recognition of her meritorious services. Earlier, during the question hour, the House was informed on a query by opposition’s Raheela Anwar that entire provincial capital was badly marred by encroachments, not only on busy roads and market places, but also the suburban areas but the authorities had chosen to look away leaving the poor at the mercy of squatters and profiteers. She said massive traffic jams were caused by the encroachments on busy city roads, making the poor suffer badly while going to offices, schools, colleges and hospitals. However, the parliamentary secretary Ramzan Siddiq Bhatti replied that the government had been conducting anti-encroachment operations regularly and brought the situation largely under control. He said encroachments had been a global problem and authorities all over the world conduct regular operations to remove them. Later, the House was adjourned without taking up any official business after opposition’s Asif Mehmood pointed out lack of quorum.