Joseph Colony case: Police failed in protecting citizens, says SC
Court announces interim order, summons detailed report of Badami Bagh incident and Gojra riots.
Demonstrators burn furniture during a protest in the Badami Bagh area of Lahore March 9, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Supreme Court announced its interim verdict in the suo motu case against the burning down of more than 150 Christian homes in Lahore, Express News reported on Monday.
The interim order stated that the police failed to protect the citizens and if their negligence is proved, action will be taken against them.
The incident would have not taken place if the police had made security arrangements, the order maintained adding that the police did not seem interested in the case.
The court summoned a detailed report of the Badami Bagh incident and the Gojra riots, and adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.
During the hearing, the bench asked the Inspector General Police (IG) of Punjab about who was responsible for the incident and what benefits were achieved by targeting the minorities.
The IG stated that a blasphemy case was reported on March 7 and an FIR was filed on March 8. The court asked why Joseph Colony was evacuated if an FIR had been filed and the suspect had been arrested.
The bench also inquired about intelligence received about the incident.
The IG also refuted reports that the houses were burnt down to grab land.
The apex court rejected the report submitted by the IG, maintaining that it did not mention the reasons behind the incident and the action taken against those responsible.
On March 9, a mob of over 3,000 people set ablaze more than 150 houses of Christians in the Joseph Colony over alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Sawan Masih, a 28-year-old Christian sanitation worker.
The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the incident and had summoned IG Punjab and advocate general Punjab.
The interim order stated that the police failed to protect the citizens and if their negligence is proved, action will be taken against them.
The incident would have not taken place if the police had made security arrangements, the order maintained adding that the police did not seem interested in the case.
The court summoned a detailed report of the Badami Bagh incident and the Gojra riots, and adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.
During the hearing, the bench asked the Inspector General Police (IG) of Punjab about who was responsible for the incident and what benefits were achieved by targeting the minorities.
The IG stated that a blasphemy case was reported on March 7 and an FIR was filed on March 8. The court asked why Joseph Colony was evacuated if an FIR had been filed and the suspect had been arrested.
The bench also inquired about intelligence received about the incident.
The IG also refuted reports that the houses were burnt down to grab land.
The apex court rejected the report submitted by the IG, maintaining that it did not mention the reasons behind the incident and the action taken against those responsible.
On March 9, a mob of over 3,000 people set ablaze more than 150 houses of Christians in the Joseph Colony over alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Sawan Masih, a 28-year-old Christian sanitation worker.
The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the incident and had summoned IG Punjab and advocate general Punjab.