Officials will lose their jobs if suspects not arrested, says CJ. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/ THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court gave concerned authorities 24 hours to arrest suspects in Shahzeb Khan's murder case and ordered for a challan of the same to be submitted to the registrar office by tomorrow, Express News reported on Friday.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is hearing the case in which 20-year-old Shahzeb was killed over a small argument allegedly by feudals.
The hearing was adjourned till January 7.
This wad the first hearing of the suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court on Shahzeb Khan's murder.
Earlier during the hearing, the chief justice warned concerned authorities to arrest Shahzeb Khan's murderers by evening, or risk losing their jobs.
As the hearing began, the IG Sindh failed to appear, irking the chief justice.
The AIG cited a flight delay as the cause.
The chief justice, referring to a previous case, said: "The IG was saved in the last case but tell him that in this case, he will not be pardoned," adding that he should have appeared in person.
Speaking to the investigation officer, he said: “You have already spoiled a case before and are about to do it again."
The court had summoned the advocate general Sindh as well as IG Police Sindh, Fiyyaz Leghari.
The latter, however, did not appear in court and was then given a 12pm deadline for appearing before the bench.
Justice Chaudhry said that all delays in progress of the case were attempts at pushing the case to the sidelines.
According to reports, influential people were standing in the way of the investigation and the arrest of the suspects, upon which the chief justice had taken a suo motu notice.
Police have failed to arrest any of the accused nominated in the murder of Shahzeb, who was shot dead near his home in Defence last week. A popular student and son of DSP Aurangzaib, Shahzeb’s murder created an uproar in civil society.
CJP lauds Express News anchorperson
During the case hearing, the chief justice played the footage of Express News anchorperson Shahzaib Khanzada’s programme To The Point and remarked that Khanzada did a better job at investigation than the police.
He said that Khanzada had taken a huge risk by doing a show on the murder case in which Shahzeb’s father and suspect Shahrukh Jatoi’s father appeared on TV for the first time.
The chief justice questioned that if an anchorperson could reach the suspects in the case, then why can the police not.
COMMENTS (44)
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@Ghulam Mustafa: Its not about which story picked up and what background shazeb have. Its about general perception. If the murderer get punishment of their act in this case. Next time same type feudals think twice even pointing gun on someone. Once justice is done, people will hope for 100 more similar cases. Look at India delhi rape case. India where rape is happening every hour, but if one case got picked up and supported by civil society, it might fix the system as next time people will think twice before committing such horrible acts. If you keep on thinking why so motto not taken and dont support this, you will never be able change the society and mindset in anyway.
As someone who trys to keep up with news in the motherland i was dissappointed with he main channels/ papers when there was very little mention of this story . Kudos to express for keeping at this story and bringing it to the attention of the world and i suppose even more importantly the chief justice i just pray that you see it through and do not slack once it has become a few weeks old i will in future be using your channel paper to see news thats not self censored to appease the powers that be in the land of the pure
Truly inspired by CJ, amazing he knows police will not make necessary steps and he is making sure that they will, i still don`t think those culprits will be caught but if civil society keep the pressure, sooner or later Justice will be served...
The government should ban this Qisas business, it was manageable 1500 years ago but in the 21st century, give me a break. Davis got away with 2 murders by giving money to the bereaved families. Give these murderers the harsh punishment with heavy fines according to the law of the land and that money should be given to the victim's family.
Two thumbs up CJP. You are a true fighter.
The CJ should just ask a simple question to these corrupt officers: What if your son was killed like this?
Maybe that will shake up their collective dead conscience.
According to reports, influential people were standing in the way of the investigation and the arrest of the suspects, upon which the chief justice had taken a suo motu notice.
Nonsense reporting. What investigation is being conducted and which influential people are standing in its way? So far, all investigation and reporting has been one sided, in favor of Shazeb Khan, and Karach police has been raiding as far as Dadu. Or do you mean that overzealous DSP should be removed?
CJ is asking the IG to appear before him without uniform, I think he intend to ask some personal matters ...
Even if caught, tried fairly, convicted despite bribery and intimidation of witnesses, very soon Qisas will come into play and the killers will escape laughing up their sleeves.
Does the CJ enjoy lawful authority to threaten and sack Police investigators?
@Lalai: brother its not the duty of SC to take suo moto of all cases. If he takes notice of quetta and gilgit killings, some other like you will ask to take notice of the killings in his city and so on. It is the responsibility of the government and law enforcement agencies which itself is controlled by these feudals and influentials. Vote sensibly next time and you won't need the CJ to take notices himself.
The accused’s family owns the Awaz TV channel. Everyone should boycott that channel, and make their sponsors stop supporting the channel as a matter of principle. These feudals must be made to realize that they don’t own the damn country.
I am totally baffled by what the people expect the CJ to do! He is a human being, with only 24 hours in a day, just like any of us. He can only do so much. Also, his instructions are being ignored by all and sundry and when he does take any action, it is termed as "impinging upon the powers of the administration".
Justice, in this case, is the arrest of the "accused", a fair trial and then, based on the trial, fair sentencing. I am as "sure" as the next person that the accused actually perpetrated the crime, but I demand that the full process of law be applied and everyone given the opportunity to defend themselves.
Even if these people are caught, I honestly don't think that people will be very forthcoming to give evidence. They will be bribed, cajoled or threatened into declining to give an eye-witness account, or they'll simply declare that they did not see the accused. The trial will end up being Shahzeb's families account versus that of the accused. As part of true justice, the case of murder must be proven "beyond any doubt" and I doubt that it can be done in this case, any more than on circumstantial basis.
DAZ DAZ DAZ
Again, hawai firing by the CJ.
To all the fools who are blaming the SC, let the SC do its job and pass its orders, and blame the Government for not implementing those orders. Criticism for the sake of criticism is foolish.
Awesome attempt by CJ ! In shaa Allah Shahzeb will get justice.
Who cares for CJ's warning. Look where is OGRA ex chief despite repeated warnings by CJ? CJ must understand that he is powerless before cunning politicians and landlords.
So if in any case justice is not served, than that means LAW is only for the poor and not for the Elite...well in my opinion justice will not be served, as History cannot be changed no matter what in Pakistan! but be hopeful :)
@Mukarram Khan: Muslim or not, all those who have been victims should have their justice. The issue is that our society is turning into a rogue state, and that has to be nipped in the bud. Shahzeb;s (may Allah grant him a place in heaven) case is a good beginning and hopefully this could be the detonator that the public has been waiting for to get rid of the curse of feudalism. These feudals are a menace to our society and its progress. They are cowards and only show their hooliganism because of their so called body guards and wealth which saves them from Justice.
Not trying to be pessimistic but there was similar enthusiasm for the Sialkot Lynching Case, but we all know that the culprits were able to walk free despite the concrete video evidence. It's high time that SC and CJ stopped playing with people's emotions and actually help Shahzeb's family get justice through this sou motu!
For whom cj is working for. He never showed such efficiency in Shia killing. Despite his judiciary is active to release arrested ones due to lack of witnesses. Its better to issue such orders for those officials who make such weak cases for Shia genocide.
Tribune, can you please publish the name of the fuedals and influencial people. Looks like this time the justice will be served by the public. I
@Lalai: Its the Government who has failed, CJ took notice of all these incidents but Government is busy in making black money! so stop diverting the issue, people like you never raise their voices against the real culprits & try to create confusion!
I think the killers have already fled the country, when will we be able to punish these powerful people who intimidate common man through Police & armed guards ??? These so called filthy rich buffoons think they own everything in Pakistan! its about time that we deal with them with iron fist!
@Hira: Fully agree with the comment. Its time that people start doing their job. no excuses. I am supporting TAQ March for the same reason-To make everyone accountable
@AB Khan.
Humm you are right after shahzb approx 50 people are killed in pakistan..civil socity, media and even SC has not rise there vice...It is because he is DSP sons and having strong family background thats why media, social socity is in action. Our problum is that we Value only the life of the human...and your's just value the life of people having strong backgrounds. WHY THERE IS DOUBLE STANDARD.
And what about the so many killed previously in so called "TARGET KILLING"???
I will believe this when they are caught and punished............until then its only words.
love you shahzaeb ................. live in our memory
in many cases police dont know killer, and try to find
But in this case, every body know killers, and killers are hiding
there should be no excuse from Police, why not arrest them, should arrest their father, brithes, as Police do normaly
Cheif justice did very good move hope ,police wake up
@Lalai:
Thats our problem, Whenever someone is trying resolve a problem, we ask him/her to look at other matters and leave the current matter behind. Its same like whenever someone is killed in one city and an action is taken against it, people like you ask to divert the attention from current issue and look at murders in other cities. For God sake let this issue be resolved and it will open the path of justice for everyone!!!!!
why not the same line for all gang rapist , , all child rapists ,, all target killers .. because they werent sons/ daughters of a DSP in police
A good attempt; hopefully it will lead to something concrete like a trial and sentence if guilty. Even if it doesnt, this should serve as an example to people who object by burning and causing chaos. You can get 'notice' by demonstrating en masse in a civil way as well.
Thank God, the uproar has been heard and CJ has taken action. I hope the culprits get hanged.
I hope CJ of Pak will bring the culprits to the justice. I am hopefull that civil society is being awakened by 2013 and will bring a soft revolution in this country. when the world is in tormoil in future pakistan will be in a stable position.Insha Allah.
Total drama. Why no similar orders for the killers of innocent and shia and ahmadi muslims. Why not threaten the army generals with similar consequences if they do not act against terrorists.
Bravo CJ. You are our true savior.
This just goes to show how these people play in the pockets of these feudals. Everyone interested in securing justice for innocent Shahzeb, please SIGN & SPREAD this petition. Like india did for the rape-victim girl, so to must we stand up for one of our own:
go to PETITION at:
http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/pakistan-goverment-bring-to-justice-the-murderer-of-shahzeb-khan-one-shahrukh-jatoi
Mr. CJ Great! Now I wonder who and what is stopping you to issue same orders for the killers of innocent people in Quetta and Giligit Baltistan.
Justice is delay justice is denied . I hope that time neither justice is delay nor denied if Civil Society of paksitan rise their voice against such brutal act So do not give up continue their sport and never stop their vice .