K-P, federal govts asked for sensitive records of APS massacre

Says case will be decided on merit, within legal and constitutional limits.

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel asked the governments’ representatives to inform the court about any sensitive records about the Army Public School massacre it might possess. He said the records could be examined by the bench inside the chamber if they are unwilling to disclose them to the public.

The bench, comprising the chief justice and Justice Muhammad Daud Khan, was hearing a petition filed by parents of APS victims on Wednesday.

The chief justice remarked that their sympathies were with the parents and the case would be decided on merit and within legal and constitutional limits.



Ajun Khan, the petitioner, said respondents have submitted their replies. He requested the bench to allow him to submit a rejoinder before the court. The bench accepted the plea and allowed him to submit his rejoinder at the next hearing.

Deputy Attorney General Manzoor Khalil, who represented the federal government, and Additional Advocate General Mujahid Ali, who represented the provincial government, appeared before the bench.

The chief justice asked them to inform the bench if there were any sensitive documents which the government did not want to divulge to the public. He said the bench could go through them inside the chamber.



The chief justice also asked the deputy attorney general and additional advocate general about their opinion on applications filed by civil society representatives and parents who wanted to become party to the petition.

Both of them said they have no objections if civil society representatives and parents are made party to the petition. The chief justice asked them to assist the court legally, saying the bench has to decide the case as per the law.

“As the petitioner has sought relief for all parents, the case can be decided even in their absence and the judgment would be applicable to all of them,” the chief justice said. He then disposed of the application.



The bench adjourned the case till June 2.

Government’s reply

In its reply, the provincial government said the threat was communicated to schools and all other relevant organisations after they were issued by the National Counter Terrorism Authority on August 28, 2014. They had asked the relevant authorities to take appropriate security steps.

The government’s representative said administrations of all schools were informed about the threats.

“No laxity has been shown and coordinated efforts are being made to root out terrorism,” it said in its reply.

The government’s representative added there were around 15 army-run schools in Peshawar and 88 across K-P.

As per the reply, after the APS attack, the police registered 1,461 cases, 2,816 Afghans were arrested while 911 search operations were conducted.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2016.