Murder appeals: LHC acquits two in judges attack case
9 people were killed in a shootout by prisoners on a convoy of judges.
9 people were killed in a shootout by prisoners on a convoy of judges. PHOTO: lhc.gov.pk
LAHORE:
A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday allowed appeals of two former officials of Sialkot district jail against their conviction in the 2003 judges’ attack case.
The bench also dismissed appeals against the acquittal of 24 accused including the then Gujranwala regional police officer, Malik Muhammad Iqbal, in the same case.
Nine people, including four civil judges, were killed in a shootout by prisoners on a convoy of judges visiting the jail in 2003.
The civil court judges who lost their lives included Syed Sheharyar Bokhari, Asif Mumtaz Ahmad Cheema, Sagheer Anwar and Shahid Munir Ranjha.
Sialkot jail’s deputy superintendent Raja Mushtaq and an official Abdul Hafeez had challenged their conviction before the Lahore High Court.
An anti terrorism court had earlier sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment each.
They submitted that the trial court had failed to establish their negligence in the incident.
They had been sentenced regardless of the facts, the said.
The bench admitted their appeals and ordered their acquittal.
The families of the murdered judges had challenged the acquittal of 24 police officials, however, the bench dismissed their appeals.
LHC seeks govt’s reply on two more petitions
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday issued a notice to the provincial government for September 25 on two more petitions challenging the Punjab Local Government Act 2013.
The petitions were filed by Majlis Wahdat-i–Muslimeen and some citizens.
Acting Advocate General Mustafa Ramday told the court that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was abroad and would submit a reply upon his return.
The chief justice had earlier issued notices to the government on similar petitions filed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for hearing. On Wednesday, PTI’s Sobia Kamal’s petition was also fixed for hearing but she withdrew her petition in favour of a similar petition filed by her party.
The petitioners said the new law envisaged party-less local government elections, which was a violation of the Constitution.
They said holding the local government elections on party-less basis was also against democratic norms.
They said if party-less elections were held, the law and order situation in the province could deteriorate.
They asked the court to declare the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 as illegal and unconstitutional.
Report on acid attack case
The LHC on Friday sought a judicial report on an acid attack report from Faisalabad.
The court directed the district and sessions judge to investigate the matter and submit a report in this regard. Allah Ditta Macchi, a tailor, had confessed his daughters had been burnt with acid when a pot he was heating to produce a bleach exploded. Police raided his house and recovered two gallons of acid.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.
A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday allowed appeals of two former officials of Sialkot district jail against their conviction in the 2003 judges’ attack case.
The bench also dismissed appeals against the acquittal of 24 accused including the then Gujranwala regional police officer, Malik Muhammad Iqbal, in the same case.
Nine people, including four civil judges, were killed in a shootout by prisoners on a convoy of judges visiting the jail in 2003.
The civil court judges who lost their lives included Syed Sheharyar Bokhari, Asif Mumtaz Ahmad Cheema, Sagheer Anwar and Shahid Munir Ranjha.
Sialkot jail’s deputy superintendent Raja Mushtaq and an official Abdul Hafeez had challenged their conviction before the Lahore High Court.
An anti terrorism court had earlier sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment each.
They submitted that the trial court had failed to establish their negligence in the incident.
They had been sentenced regardless of the facts, the said.
The bench admitted their appeals and ordered their acquittal.
The families of the murdered judges had challenged the acquittal of 24 police officials, however, the bench dismissed their appeals.
LHC seeks govt’s reply on two more petitions
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday issued a notice to the provincial government for September 25 on two more petitions challenging the Punjab Local Government Act 2013.
The petitions were filed by Majlis Wahdat-i–Muslimeen and some citizens.
Acting Advocate General Mustafa Ramday told the court that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was abroad and would submit a reply upon his return.
The chief justice had earlier issued notices to the government on similar petitions filed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for hearing. On Wednesday, PTI’s Sobia Kamal’s petition was also fixed for hearing but she withdrew her petition in favour of a similar petition filed by her party.
The petitioners said the new law envisaged party-less local government elections, which was a violation of the Constitution.
They said holding the local government elections on party-less basis was also against democratic norms.
They said if party-less elections were held, the law and order situation in the province could deteriorate.
They asked the court to declare the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 as illegal and unconstitutional.
Report on acid attack case
The LHC on Friday sought a judicial report on an acid attack report from Faisalabad.
The court directed the district and sessions judge to investigate the matter and submit a report in this regard. Allah Ditta Macchi, a tailor, had confessed his daughters had been burnt with acid when a pot he was heating to produce a bleach exploded. Police raided his house and recovered two gallons of acid.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.