CJ calls Lakha police over newborn’s death

5 family members including infant’s mother accused of burying baby alive.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudary has summoned officials of the Lakha border millitary police (BMP) on Wednesday to brief him on the death of a newborn baby allegedly buried alive.

The CJ took notice of the incident after Muhammad Khan, the complainant, appealed him to launch a judicial inquiry because the BMP officials were partial towards the accused.

Khan filed a case against Zehri, the mother of the baby, Zehri’s parents Nozoro and Sakina and her two brothers Lallay and Elahi Baksh, accusing them of burying the newborn alive.

One of Khan’s sons was engaged to be married with Zehri.

The Lakha BMP arrested Nozoro and Elahi Baksh and exhumed the newborn’s body. The police later released them allegedly after they told Amanullah Khosa, the investigative officer, that the mother herself had buried the child. The area magistrate rejected Amanullah’s report and sent their case to the Dera Ghazi Khan sessions judge. The court gave them the benefit of doubt and set them free.

The BMP Lakha did not initiate any criminal proceedings against other members of the family including Zehri.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2010.