LHC to take up plea against Kanju’s acquittal in murder case

Federal govt asked to reply to petition against sale of uniforms of law enforcement agencies

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) will take up on Monday (today) a petition by the provincial government challenging the acquittal of Mustafa Kanju, son of former state minister Siddique Kanju, of a murder charge.

Mustafa Kanju is accused of killing Zain and injuring another passer-by near Lahore’s Cavalry Ground on April 1 following a collision between his car and another.

Last week, an LHC division bench had adjourned the hearing, directing the government to produce a DNA report of Zain. The bench had observed that it was a high-profile case and that the prosecution should have shown more responsibility.

Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir Shah stated that the DNA report was yet to be prepared by a forensic laboratory. He said stains of Zain’s blood were found on Kanju’s car as the victim was taken to a hospital in the vehicle.

Expressing dismay over delay in the preparation of the report, the court had questioned the laboratory’s efficiency. The prosecutor submitted that the trial court had acquitted Kanju in haste and in disregard of facts. He said the court had not recorded statements of police witnesses who had recovered a weapon from Kanju.

Some of the prosecution witnesses had retracted their statements after which the court had acquitted him and his accomplices, said the prosecutor general.

On October 27, an anti-terrorism court had acquitted Kanju and his guards of the murder charges.

Altaf media ban

Last week, an LHC full bench put off until January 11 hearing of a petition filed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) against a ban on media coverage of speeches of its chief Altaf Hussain.

The bench asked lawyers from both parties to appear before the court after preparing their arguments. Advocate Asma Jahangir had requested the court to withdraw its interim order enforcing the ban.

Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi said she had challenged the order before the Supreme Court (SC) and that the SC had not issued any instruction against the order that remained intact.

The bench also re-issued notices to the attorney general and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman on the petitions seeking a ban on the MQM and a high treason case against its chief.

The law officer concerned and the PEMRA chairman had not appeared before the court. Advocate Ahmad Owais and Iftikhar Ahmad, the petitioners’ lawyers, had sought more time to formulate their arguments.

Uniforms

The LHC gave the last chance to the federal government last week to file a reply on a petition challenging the sale of used uniforms of law enforcement agencies in the markets.

When a law officer sought more time to file the government’s version, Justice Sajid Mahmood Bhatti observed that the government should take the matter seriously. The judge directed the officer to submit a reply at the next hearing.

Counsel for the provincial government submitted that the sale of such uniforms had been banned. The lawyer said that stringent action was being taken against the violators.

Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry had filed the petition. He cited some incidents of terrorism wherein terrorists were wearing uniforms of law enforcement agencies. The court would resume hearing on the matter on January 12.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2015.