LHC demands second reply in ransom case
LHCt Chief Justice seeks reply regarding the suo motu notice of the abduction of an 11-year old boy.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif on Thursday directed Home Department special secretary to file a reply till October 6 regarding the suo motu notice of the abduction of an 11-year old boy, Athar Alamdar, from Rawalpindi who was released after his father paid Rs4 million ransom to the kidnappers. A reply from the special secretary was submitted, on Wednesday, but the CJ rejected it as ‘irrational’.
The special secretary had stated in his reply that paying ransom for the recovery of the abducted was unlawful and that it could not be rewarded. The CJ observed that not paying the ransom could have led to the abducted being killed. He instructed the special secretary to explain how paying ransom was illegal. When he said that the parents of the abducted child should have contacted the police before taking any step, the secretary was reminded that the ransom was paid in the presence of the police.
The court has adjourned the matter till October 6 and directed the secretary to submit a second reply, in writing this time, as oral replies did not satisfy the court’s requirements.
Earlier, Dr Alamdar, the abducted child’s father, had requested the court to direct the Punjab government to reimburse him for the ransom amount. He said that the Sindh government had reimbursed the ransom amount to the two additional district and sessions judges, who were released by kidnappers after receiving the ransom. Justice Sharif directed the Home Department to file its reply about the possibility of paying the amount to the father under Article 25 of the Constitution.
Governor’s House is public property: Judge
LHC judge Sheikh Azmat Saeed adjourned the hearing of the Governor’s House case until September 29.
The petitioner had requested that the Governor’s House be divided into 786 plots, which should be given to the poor.
The judge observed that the Governor’s House was public property and any harm to it was every citizen’s loss.
The court issued notices to the advocate general and the attorney general. Advocate AK Dogar has been made the amicus curie.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2010.
The special secretary had stated in his reply that paying ransom for the recovery of the abducted was unlawful and that it could not be rewarded. The CJ observed that not paying the ransom could have led to the abducted being killed. He instructed the special secretary to explain how paying ransom was illegal. When he said that the parents of the abducted child should have contacted the police before taking any step, the secretary was reminded that the ransom was paid in the presence of the police.
The court has adjourned the matter till October 6 and directed the secretary to submit a second reply, in writing this time, as oral replies did not satisfy the court’s requirements.
Earlier, Dr Alamdar, the abducted child’s father, had requested the court to direct the Punjab government to reimburse him for the ransom amount. He said that the Sindh government had reimbursed the ransom amount to the two additional district and sessions judges, who were released by kidnappers after receiving the ransom. Justice Sharif directed the Home Department to file its reply about the possibility of paying the amount to the father under Article 25 of the Constitution.
Governor’s House is public property: Judge
LHC judge Sheikh Azmat Saeed adjourned the hearing of the Governor’s House case until September 29.
The petitioner had requested that the Governor’s House be divided into 786 plots, which should be given to the poor.
The judge observed that the Governor’s House was public property and any harm to it was every citizen’s loss.
The court issued notices to the advocate general and the attorney general. Advocate AK Dogar has been made the amicus curie.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2010.