LHC orders judicial inquiry into Sahiwal shootout

Directs sessions judge to appoint magistrate to conduct inquiry within 30 days

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered a judicial inquiry into the Sahiwal shootout, directing the Sahiwal sessions judge to appoint a magistrate for conducting the inquiry within a period of 30 days.

A two-judge bench, headed by LHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan, was hearing multiple petitions, including the one filed by victim Khalil’s brother Jalil, which rejected the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Sahiwal incident and sought formation of a judicial commission to conduct a transparent investigation into the case.

As the hearing commenced, additional attorney general produced the copy of a letter issued by the Punjab Home Department, which showed that it had not recommended the formation of a judicial commission for the time being.

“The government has decided to wait till the conclusion of the JIT probe and the constitution of a judicial commission will be considered if the report is found to be unsatisfactory,” the law officer said.

Keeping in view the importance of the matter, Sahiwal sessions judge has been directed to depute a magistrate under Section 30 for conducting a judicial inquiry into the Sahiwal incident wherein Muhammad Khalil, Zeeshan, Nabeela Khalil and Areeba Khalil were killed while Muhammad Umair and Jazba Khalil were injured, allegedly at the hands of the Counter Terrorism Department officials.

The concerned magistrate shall conclude the judicial inquiry within a period of 30 days, the court order said.

To a query whether the JIT had recorded the statements of the people named in the list given by the court, JIT head Ijaz Shah apprised the court that the statements of eyewitnesses - Muhammad Jalil, Muhammad Afzal, Umair Khalil and Dr Nadeem Abbas - had been recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC.

However, he was unable to satisfy the court regarding recording of statements of all witnesses.

The bench expressed displeasure over his lack of preparation.

The LHC chief justice remarked that the JIT had not bothered to record statements of all the eye witnesses provided by the LHC.

“Is this the way to obey court orders,” the CJ remarked.

“The way you are working on the case is sad,” Justice Sadaqat Ali told the JIT head.

Ijaz Shah assured the court of recording the statements of all the witnesses, who would appear or be produced before the JIT.