News leak: LHC asks govt to file report by 19th

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the federal government on Sunday to submit the inquiry report on news leaks to the committee formed under Justice (retired) Amir Raza by December 19.

LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued the order on a petition filed by a member of the PPP’s lawyers’ wing Advocate Ilyas Khan.

Ilyas Khan, who is represented by Babar Awan, claimed that since Justice Amir Raza and other members of the inquiry committee had “close relations” with the Sharif family, there was no hope of a transparent inquiry.

Challenging the selection for heading the inquiry committee to probe the matter of divulging information regarding a high-level meeting between civilian and military officials, the petitioner submitted that the former judge “enjoyed good relations with PML-N leaders”.

He submitted that the former justice had recently served as the chairman of the Punjab Healthcare Commission.

In the light of this information, the petitioner voiced doubt that the inquiry could be held in a fair and transparent manner.

Contending that the appointment of a retired judge was in violation of the Constitution, the petitioner requested the court to set aside the appointment.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2016.