KARACHI, Pakistan

A Pakistani court Monday indicted a police officer for his alleged involvement in killing of an aspiring model in southern port city of Karachi last year, court record said.

Naqeebullah Mehsud, who hailed from South Waziristan tribal region, was killed in January 2018 for being an alleged member of the outlawed Pakistani Taliban by a police team led by Rao Anwar, who pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Naqeebulla's family denied the police claim and instead accused authorities of targeting the 27-year-old youth for being part of the Mehsud clan, which has faced the brunt of security operations in the country’s northwest.

The slain victim used to run a Facebook page with nearly 26,000 followers where he used to post pictures of himself in various modelling poses.

Mehsud’s pictures -- some with his minor children -- sporting a stylish beard had stirred a social media debate after the killing, and prompted the country’s Supreme Court to take suo-motu action of the case.

Anwar, along with four other police officers are currently out on a bail, while 13 police officials are in jail on a judicial remand.

The court adjourned the hearing until April 11.

A joint investigation team, in its findings, has already declared Rao and his team involved in the murder of Naqeebullah, and his three friends in a staged clash.

The notorious officer is known for being an “encounter specialist” for killing dozens of suspects -- some local media reports put his list of kills as high as 200.

Encounters refer to staged shootouts that involve security personnel shooting a suspect dead after alleging the victims were terrorists and had attacked law enforcers first.

Discrimination against Mehsuds

The Mehsud clan has consistently complained of widespread discrimination ever since some members from among them joined militant and terror groups.

Two chiefs of Pakistani Taliban militant group, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), hailed from the Mehsuds.

Baitullah Mehsud founded the militant network in 2007. He was succeeded by Hakimullah Mehsud. Both TTP chiefs were killed in U.S. drone strikes in 2009 and 2013.

The Pakistani Taliban faction has also claimed numerous terrorist attacks in the country, which have left thousands of civilians and military personnel dead.

Security operations launched against the Pakistani Taliban in the northwest has forced thousands of Pashtuns, including Mehsuds, to migrate to other parts of the country in the last decade.

The vast majority of Mehsuds are peace-loving Pakistanis, who can be found involved in various businesses and odd jobs around the country. From running a truck business to gatekeepers of apartment complexes, these enterprising people can now be found in all corners of the country, from northeastern Lahore to southeastern Karachi.

However, in southern Sindh province and northeastern Punjab province they are generally treated with suspicion.

Many complain that even banks do not allow them to open an account, while others say they are not given national identification cards and are profiled as Afghan refugees.