Law enforcers cannot wash their hands off the murder near the court

The CCPO said the policemen were not allowed to leave their posts .

LAHORE: Law enforcement officials cannot be silent spectators at a scene of crime. They are bound to take immediate action. The Lahore police chief’s statement that the police officials deputed at the gates of the Lahore High Court, within yards of the place where Farzana Bibi was bludgeoned to death, were not allowed to leave their posts – even to save a life – sounds like a flimsy excuse. Instead of considering the matter settled, the Lahore High Court has ordered the capital city police officer to take action against the policemen who did not rescue Farzana Bibi even though they were posted near the scene of the crime.

Contrary to the CCPO’s statement, Mustafa Ramday, the top law officer of the government, told the court that administrative proceedings would be conducted to fix responsibility for the inaction of the policemen present near the scene of the crime.

These contradictory statements make it seem that they are not on the same page.

A special division bench of the LHC headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has directed the CCPO to file a report after submitting the challan against the accused. The court has sought a report on security in areas around courts in the province. The court has also directed the CCPO to ensure high security alert around the courts.

Due respect for special children

Last week, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik of the Lahore High Court reprimanded the Schools secretary for referring to special children as “mentally disabled”. The judge said the words were highly offensive. Justice Malik was hearing a petition challenging the expulsion of special children from a private school because they were disabled. The petitioner said the school was not providing equal opportunity to special children.

In compliance with court’s order, Schools Secretary Abdul Jabbar Shaheen submitted his reply to the petition. He said ensuring equal opportunity for mentally disabled children was not practicable.

The judge directed the secretary to furnish a report on the government’s policy on providing education to special children in schools.

Jain temples

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court expressed his displeasure with the chief secretary’s attitude in not granting Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafri time to meet in connection with his petition for the rehabilitation and restoration of deserted Jain temples in the province. The judge directed the respondents to file their reply with affidavits by June 17.

The petitioner said many Jain temples across the country were deserted and in ruins. He sought directions from the court for the restoration of these temples.

Fortress Square Plaza

Last week, a judge of the Lahore High Court adjourned hearing of proceedings against the construction of Fortress Square Plaza on land reserved for military purposes. The matter has been adjourned till June 13 for further arguments on the maintainability of the petition.

Nayyer Khan, a citizen, had filed the petition submitting that the shopping complex built on 60,942 square feet had been constructed in violation of law.

He said the land belonged to the federal government but the Fortress Stadium Management had leased it to DUPAK Developers Pakistan on October 27, 2007, for 33 years. He said the construction was complete and the management was now handing over possession of shops.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2014.