Seeking answers: CJ names heads of Abbottabad, Shahzad probes

Justice Javed Iqbal to head May 2 commission; Justice Saqib Nisar to head Saleem Shahzad murder commission.


Qaiser Zulfiqar June 21, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has nominated Justice Javed Iqbal to head the judicial commission to probe the Abbottabad operation, while Justice Saqib Nisar will head the commission to probe journalist Saleem Shahzad’s killing.


The government, through the law ministry’s secretary, had approached the Supreme Court registrar on Sunday to request the chief justice to appoint apex court judges to head inquiry commissions into the two incidents.

Earlier on Monday, the court temporarily disposed of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ (PFUJ) petition and directed that while nominating other members for the commissions, the government must keep in mind that their status should not be less than the president of the commission, ie, a judge of the Supreme Court.

At the outset of the hearing the PFUJ petition through Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir, Chaudhry observed that while this petition is being heard, another journalist was reportedly tortured by police in Islamabad.

The chief justice informed the counsels about the government’s letters. While appreciating the government’s move, he observed, “All things should not come to the court, let the government do its job.” He asked Jahangir to take the time to decide whether she wants to pursue the petition or the formation of the commission.

After deliberations in Jahangir’s office with leading journalists, a consensus emerged that the petition will be withdrawn but under certain conditions. The bench was informed in writing about the decision.

Counsels Muneer A Malik and Jahangir told the court  that Shahzad’s murder was a matter of basic human rights thus the scope of the judicial commission should be expanded.

They said that this pattern of harassment of journalists should also be investigated as 74 journalists have been killed in the recent past.

Terms of reference of the commission should be clearly spelt out and petitioners will have the right to file an application to reopen the case even if it is disposed off by the court.

The government’s representative, Babar Awan, assured the court that that government wants a transparent investigation into Shahzad’s murder and all agencies, including the Inter-Services Public Relations, have also supported the commission. We are committed and ready to go the extra mile, he said.

Chaudhry asked the counsels to make the commissions’ reports public as had earlier been done in the dyke breaching case and the Bank of Punjab scam. “If you will not do it, I will make it public,” he said.

The inspectors-general of Punjab and Islamabad police also submitted their reports to the bench.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

S. AASIM NISAR | 12 years ago | Reply First of all I says that our media should call OSAMA "SHAHEED" because if any Muslim died from non-Muslim that will be SHAHEED. Now it is useless to make a commission & and to waste the money. S C have a lot of work beside this.SC should bring the money from SWISS Bank, and cheke the corrouption of MIAN BROTHERS.Now commission cannot bring the lost fame of Pakistan. In my point of view there was no OSAMA in Abbottabad.If Osama live in that place then American sodiers caught osama live. In America & Europe there police done such operations in theater and on other places where they caught terrorist alive by the mixture of chloroformand other chemicals. Now osama is the most wanted person in the world. The question arise that why not Obama soldires caught osama alive and if they Shaheed Osama in Abbottabad, why they don't show the body of Osama to Pakistan peoples , media and to world?
Mirza | 12 years ago | Reply The only questions of any significance are: Was OBL living in that army base? If yes, then how and why was that possible? Who was providing him and his harem all the comforts, that common Pakistanis cannot even dream of? Who has been lying about it and what is the truth? Let us hope and pray that for the sake of Pakistan's future and country's image, the truth finally comes out. This is the right thing to do, after we have tried everything else for more than a month and a half. Mirza
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ