THE family of Sheku Bayoh have called for a meeting with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over comments made by a former Justice Secretary and the handling of the case.
Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland appealed for restraint from all sides as the initial investigation into the death of Mr Bayoh continues.
He urged all those with an interest in the death of Mr Bayoh not to engage in "speculation and a running commentary".
The intervention follows a public spat between Mr Anwar and Mr MacAskill.
Mr MacAskill said there was an "open season of hunting Police Scotland" and criticised campaigners connected to Mr Bayoh's family.
The former Justice Secretary said he believed the investigation into the case would disclose a "tragic accident", not criminality.
Now Mr Bayoh's sisters, Kadijartu Johnson, Adama Jalloh and Kosna Bayoh, have written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The sisters wrote: "We will not rest until we get justice."
Mr MacAskill welcomed the Lord Advocate's statement but declined to comment on the Bayoh family's letter to the First Minister.
Mr Mulholland QC called for Pirc and the Crown Office to be allowed to "get on with their job" amid intense media interest in the case.
He said: "The Crown and Pirc are not influenced by comments made in the media and that is how it should be.
"However, speculation and a running commentary on the investigation can be upsetting to the family of Sheku Bayoh as well as the families of the officers involved.
"A decision will be taken at the end of this extremely complex investigation as to whether or not criminal proceedings should be raised.
"An inquiry will also be held at which all the relevant evidence will be heard, open to the public and the media, and it is right that it is this forum where the evidence will be rigorously tested and judicially assessed.
"Pirc, and the Crown, should be allowed to get on with their job."
Earlier this week, Mr MacAskill accused campaigners and commentators of creating a ''poisonous atmosphere'' in which individual officers have been targeted.
His comments were welcomed by Professor Peter Watson, the lawyer for the police officers involved in the case, at the time.
However, Mr Anwar said following the Lord Advocate's comments: "The family were sickened by the comments of Mr MacAskill who really should know better.
"He tried to silence the Bayohs but went on himself to predict there would be no criminal proceedings and claimed it was all an accident. "
He added: "When a man is dead and his family are grieving for his loss, the last thing they need is an ex-justice minister predicting publicly the outcome of an investigation.
"The Bayohs are grateful for today’s intervention by the Lord Advocate and hope that those who should know better will stop declaring publicly that there will be no criminal proceedings when there is an ongoing investigation."
Mr MacAskill said: "I welcome the Lord Advocate's comments and look forward to the outcome of the investigations."
Mr Watson declined to comment.
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