Court dismisses probe plea in CCD shooting

RAWALPINDI:

Senior Judge of the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, has dismissed a constitutional petition seeking a judicial inquiry into the brutal killing of nine-year-old Pakistani-origin Australian student Hania and the serious injuries sustained by her father and brother.

The court directed the petitioner to approach the appropriate legal forum and also instructed the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to decide, after hearing the applicant, on a request already submitted for an independent inquiry.

The petition had been filed by Advocate Asif Mahmood. During Friday's hearing, replies were submitted on behalf of the Punjab Inspector General of Police, the regional police officer and the district police officer Chakwal.The respondents informed the court that a case had already been registered in Chakwal, the accused had been arrested and the investigation was proceeding on merit. They stated that the challan was expected to be submitted next week and requested dismissal of the petition.

The assistant advocate general argued that since an FIR had been registered, the suspect arrested and the investigation was in its final stages, there was no justification for constituting a judicial commission.

The petitioner's counsel contended that the police could not investigate allegations against themselves and demanded an inquiry by an independent agency. He argued that indiscriminate firing by the CCD had killed Hania .