SC directs AGP to seek federal govt's guidance on APS judicial commission report

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday directed Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan to take instructions from the federal government on the judicial commission report of the Army Public School tragedy. 

The SC resumed the suo motu hearing of the 2014 APS attack during which Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed assured the parents of the martyred children that those responsible for the tragedy would not be spared.

“The perpetrators of negligence will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” CJP said

The court directed the AGP to seek directions from the government on the inquiry report. “The case will be taken forward in light of the attorney general's reply.”

One of the parents remarked that the children are not safe in Pakistan; to which Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked to trust the court’s procedures as the miscreants would be dealt with according to the law.

The apex court also ordered the AGP to appear in person during the next hearing and adjourned the proceedings for four weeks.

On July 10, the commission formed to probe into the 2014 APS tragedy in which over 140 teachers and pupils were martyred by terrorists submitted its report to the SC.

The commission’s 3,000-page report contains the statements of 132 people, including 101 witnesses, 31 policemen, Pakistan Army personnel and other officers, apart from that of the parents.

The former chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had formed the commission in 2018 on the request of the martyred children’s parents to investigate the APS tragedy.

The former chief justice had appointed Peshawar High Court Justice Muhammad Ibrahim as the head of the commission.

Other members of the commission included Peshawar inspector general of police, Corps Commander Peshawar, home secretary, chief secretary and other high-ranking officials.

Former chief justice Nisar had directed the formation of the commission and instructed to submit the report within six months.