Murtaza Bhutto

CLIFTON KILLINGS SUMMARY OF BRITISH
TEAM'S REPORT
KARACHI, Feb. 13, 1997: "Our major misgiving is the fact that neither bullets
nor bullet fragments have apparently been recovered since the incident" in
Clifton on Sept 20 last year when the police killed eight people, including Mir
Murtaza Bhutto. This was the observation made by the seven-member British
team of detectives investigating the incident in its preliminary report which it
has submitted to the government of Sindh, the Inspector-General of Police,
Sindh, and the Pakistan High Commission, London. The team had arrived in
Karachi on Oct. 28 and left for London on Nov. 8, after submitting the 14page
preliminary report.
The team, which called itself as "the independent," would be most willing to
return to undertake the final phase of work. It said that a considerable
amount of work has been completed, and the final report includes a large
number of findings and recommendations. However, for a variety of reason,
there are still further inquiries that could be made. The terms of reference for
the inquiry team were: Police practice and procedure, the collection and
presentation of evidence, forensic pathology, forensic ballistics, and it was
also to recommend for the future appropriate practices to assist in the rules of
engagement by the police in firearms incidents, collection and continuity of
forensic and ballistic evidence, police preparation and presentation of
evidence.
The team repeatedly asked for a map of the scene that includes the positions
of bodies and the recovered firearms and shells, but unfortunately this has
not been forthcoming. "We understand that the person responsible for the
preparation of the plan went on leave during our visit. This detailed plan
would have been of utmost importance and value to us, both the time of the
reconstruction and in reports covering aspects of ballistics and forensic
pathology. It would also have been invaluable to the investigating officers."
— Ricochet marks on the carriageway outside the DIG's house and associated
bullet marks on the kerb of the central reservation established that shots were
fired from the general direction of the road junction immediately beside the
DIG's house.
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