Islamabad courts attack: SC dissatified with IGP’s report
Apex court orders IGP to present new report in 2 days as his report contradicts chief commissioner's.
A police commandos stop a photo journalist near a local court building after a gun and suicide attack in Islamabad on March 3, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Expressing dissatisfaction over the police report about the attack on Islamabad’s district court, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the inspector general of police (IGP) to present a new report in two days, Express News reported.
A three-member bench – headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani – heard the attack case today.
On March 3, two suicide bombers and their armed accomplices had attacked the district courts in Islamabad’s sector F-8 killing at least 11 people, including an additional sessions judge and a female lawyer, and injuring over two dozen others.
During the hearing today, Justice Azmat Saeed said that reports by the Islamabad chief commissioner and the IGP Islamabad were contradictory.
The IGP Islamabad’s report stated that according to the evidence collected so far, there were two assailants involved in the attack. However, Islamabad chief commissioner’s report stated that there were more than two attackers.
The chief commissioner’s report further stated that the deputy commissioner is carrying out an inquiry into the attack and so far 154 people have recorded their statements.
The chief justice questioned how investigation into the incident will proceed if the number of attackers is not known yet.
The case hearing was adjourned to March 17.
Allegations
Khalid Noon, the reader of the slain Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ahmed Awan appeared before the apex court and stated that the police were pressuring him to tamper his statements.
He alleged that the police wanted him to say that Awan was accidentally shot and killed by his own guard during the attack.
Awan’s brother Colonel Safdar Hussain, however, claimed that the reader was a liar.
On March 6, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said in the National Assembly that Judge Awan, who was believed to be killed by terrorists in the attack, was actually hit by the bullets of his own guard.
Joint investigation team
The Supreme Court ordered the interior secretary to form a joint team to carry out investigation into the attack.
The district bar president, while speaking to the media, said the team will be independent and include officials from the police, not below the rank of DIGs, as well as Federal Investigation Agency officials.
He further stated that the Supreme Court also ordered public figures to not give statements regarding the attack on media and other forums.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the police report about the attack on Islamabad’s district court, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the inspector general of police (IGP) to present a new report in two days, Express News reported.
A three-member bench – headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani – heard the attack case today.
On March 3, two suicide bombers and their armed accomplices had attacked the district courts in Islamabad’s sector F-8 killing at least 11 people, including an additional sessions judge and a female lawyer, and injuring over two dozen others.
During the hearing today, Justice Azmat Saeed said that reports by the Islamabad chief commissioner and the IGP Islamabad were contradictory.
The IGP Islamabad’s report stated that according to the evidence collected so far, there were two assailants involved in the attack. However, Islamabad chief commissioner’s report stated that there were more than two attackers.
The chief commissioner’s report further stated that the deputy commissioner is carrying out an inquiry into the attack and so far 154 people have recorded their statements.
The chief justice questioned how investigation into the incident will proceed if the number of attackers is not known yet.
The case hearing was adjourned to March 17.
Allegations
Khalid Noon, the reader of the slain Additional Sessions Judge Rafaqat Ahmed Awan appeared before the apex court and stated that the police were pressuring him to tamper his statements.
He alleged that the police wanted him to say that Awan was accidentally shot and killed by his own guard during the attack.
Awan’s brother Colonel Safdar Hussain, however, claimed that the reader was a liar.
On March 6, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said in the National Assembly that Judge Awan, who was believed to be killed by terrorists in the attack, was actually hit by the bullets of his own guard.
Joint investigation team
The Supreme Court ordered the interior secretary to form a joint team to carry out investigation into the attack.
The district bar president, while speaking to the media, said the team will be independent and include officials from the police, not below the rank of DIGs, as well as Federal Investigation Agency officials.
He further stated that the Supreme Court also ordered public figures to not give statements regarding the attack on media and other forums.