The Supreme Court was informed a new Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been constituted for investigation into the Parween Rehman murder case.
The hearing of the suo motu notice was undertaken by a three-member bench headed by Justice Azmat Saeed on Wednesday. Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar informed the court interior ministry has constituted a new JIT for investigation into the murder case.
He also presented the new JIT's notification, adding it will work under director FIA Mazhar ulHaq Kakakhel and will comprise five members. The court was also told threatening calls to the project members are being traced and reports are awaited.
Justice Saeed said let the reports from other institutes come and then the matter will be taken forward, adding the top court would keep an eye on the performance of the JIT while postponing the hearing for three weeks.
Meanwhile, initiating action against fake witnesses, the top court summoned Muhammad Arshad, a resident of Sahiwal, involved in recording false testimony in a murder case.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, directed City Police Officer (CPO) to make sure the appearance of the accused before the court on February 22.
The top court, while giving benefit of doubt to the accused in murder case, acquitted Zoor Awar after passing seven years. The chief justice observed that due to the fake witness Muhammad Arshad, "the accused had to spend seven years behind bars, then why we should not initiate this virtue by taking action against him."
Justice Khosa remarked, "I am surprised how trial court awarded death sentence and High Court converted it into life imprisonment, on the basis of such fake witnesses.”
He added a volunteer who is a police witness got injuries on arm according to the FIR, later this injury was converted into fire. Moreover, his medical test was conducted after three days. The CJP observed no one was hurt according to 161 statements and all witnesses said they never saw or heard any fire that night. Despite this, the lower court awarded death sentence, which is shocking.
Subsequently, the court summoning the alleged fake witness on February 22 passed the acquittal orders for Zoor Awar.
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