Pakistani authorities on Monday opened an investigation into the police killing of four people, including a woman and a child, in an encounter with a suspected militant leader that has drawn accusations from the public of police brutality.

Counterterrorism officers said an Islamic State (IS) leader in Punjab province, Zeeshan Javed, was killed when police fired on a car he was travelling in on Saturday, in the town of Sahiwal. Three passengers — grocery store owner Muhammad Khalil, his wife and their 12 year-old daughter — were also killed, police said.

Police said Javed fired on officers first and weapons were found in the car. That account has been disputed by witnesses, including Khalil’s other three children who survived with minor wounds. The killings triggered protests on Sunday in Lahore and renewed a debate over extra-judicial killings and police impunity in the nation. Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was “shocked at seeing the traumatised children who saw their parents shot before their eyes”, and promised the state would care for the survivors. Investigators were expected to deliver a report on Wednesday, police said.

Explosives found

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat told reporters on Sunday that a “large quantity of explosives” were found at Javed’s home and “two suicide vests, eight hand grenades, two pistols and bullets” were recovered from the car. Mr. Basharat said officers from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) intercepted the car after a tip-off and Javed fired first.

However, videos circulating on social media appear to raise doubts about that.