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Pakistan probes 'unlawful' videoed killing in Karachi | Pakistan probes 'unlawful' videoed killing in Karachi |
(40 minutes later) | |
Pakistan's Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, has ordered an inquiry into the killing - on camera - of a young man by paramilitaries. | Pakistan's Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, has ordered an inquiry into the killing - on camera - of a young man by paramilitaries. |
Video footage shows the man, Sarfaraz Shah, begging for his life before being shot by the paramilitaries in Karachi. | Video footage shows the man, Sarfaraz Shah, begging for his life before being shot by the paramilitaries in Karachi. |
The Rangers say the young man was caught trying to rob someone. His family denies this. | The Rangers say the young man was caught trying to rob someone. His family denies this. |
An inquiry is already under way into the killing of five unarmed Chechens last month by the security forces. | An inquiry is already under way into the killing of five unarmed Chechens last month by the security forces. |
Pleads for life | Pleads for life |
The video from Karachi, which has been broadcast widely on Pakistani television, is disturbing to watch. | The video from Karachi, which has been broadcast widely on Pakistani television, is disturbing to watch. |
It shows a young man in a black t-shirt being dragged by his hair in a public park by a man in plain clothes. | It shows a young man in a black t-shirt being dragged by his hair in a public park by a man in plain clothes. |
Karachi faces a soaring crime rate. In parts of the city, the authorities struggle to impose law and order. | Karachi faces a soaring crime rate. In parts of the city, the authorities struggle to impose law and order. |
The Sindh Rangers say Sarfaraz Shah was caught trying to rob someone. | The Sindh Rangers say Sarfaraz Shah was caught trying to rob someone. |
But Sarfaraz's family is accusing the Sindh Rangers of staging a so-called fake encounter. | But Sarfaraz's family is accusing the Sindh Rangers of staging a so-called fake encounter. |
That's a term widely used in South Asia to refer to a false version of events, concocted by the police or other security forces after an incident, in order to cover up torture or unlawful killing. | That's a term widely used in South Asia to refer to a false version of events, concocted by the police or other security forces after an incident, in order to cover up torture or unlawful killing. |
Many in Pakistan are fearful of the security forces which vary in their professionalism and are often accused of acting with impunity. | Many in Pakistan are fearful of the security forces which vary in their professionalism and are often accused of acting with impunity. |
What distinguishes this case from thousands of others is that it was filmed clearly and that footage has been viewed across the country - making it impossible for those responsible to disguise what really happened. | What distinguishes this case from thousands of others is that it was filmed clearly and that footage has been viewed across the country - making it impossible for those responsible to disguise what really happened. |
He is pushed towards a group of Sindh Rangers, a paramilitary force, who are in uniform and armed. The young man, who does not appear to be armed, pleads for his life as one of the Rangers points a gun at his neck. | He is pushed towards a group of Sindh Rangers, a paramilitary force, who are in uniform and armed. The young man, who does not appear to be armed, pleads for his life as one of the Rangers points a gun at his neck. |
A little later, a Ranger shoots him twice at close range, hitting him in the thigh. The young man is seen writhing on the ground, bleeding heavily and begging for help. | A little later, a Ranger shoots him twice at close range, hitting him in the thigh. The young man is seen writhing on the ground, bleeding heavily and begging for help. |
The paramilitaries remain close to the injured man but do nothing to help him. He died from his injuries. | The paramilitaries remain close to the injured man but do nothing to help him. He died from his injuries. |
The Rangers have since said that the young man had been caught trying to rob someone. His family denies this. | The Rangers have since said that the young man had been caught trying to rob someone. His family denies this. |
His brother, Salik Shah, said Sarfaraz had been the victim of an extrajudicial killing. | His brother, Salik Shah, said Sarfaraz had been the victim of an extrajudicial killing. |
"My innocent brother has been killed brutally by the Rangers, " he said. "What harm has he inflicted on anybody? | "My innocent brother has been killed brutally by the Rangers, " he said. "What harm has he inflicted on anybody? |
"His crime was that he was just strolling in the public park because there was no power in the house." | "His crime was that he was just strolling in the public park because there was no power in the house." |
It is not clear who shot the video which has been broadcast repeatedly on Pakistani television. Some reports suggest that the cameraman has now gone into hiding. | It is not clear who shot the video which has been broadcast repeatedly on Pakistani television. Some reports suggest that the cameraman has now gone into hiding. |
The incident has sparked an outcry with some politicians calling for the Rangers involved to be prosecuted. | The incident has sparked an outcry with some politicians calling for the Rangers involved to be prosecuted. |
Ali Dayan Hasan, the Pakistani researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the killing "provides chilling evidence of the abusive, trigger-happy practices of Pakistan's military, paramilitary and civilian agencies". | |
It comes as a separate inquiry is under way in neighbouring Balochistan Province into the killing of five Chechens by members of the paramilitary. | It comes as a separate inquiry is under way in neighbouring Balochistan Province into the killing of five Chechens by members of the paramilitary. |
Five civilians, including a heavily pregnant woman, were shot dead at close range in the western city of Quetta, despite apparently trying to surrender. | Five civilians, including a heavily pregnant woman, were shot dead at close range in the western city of Quetta, despite apparently trying to surrender. |
Officials initially said that the five family members were armed and were suicide bombers - but this was later found to be untrue. |