Katcheri investigation: Dissatisfied with report, SC orders fresh probe

Bars public figures from making statements, seeks report in two weeks.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has directed the interior ministry to constitute another team to probe Islamabad District Courts incident and submit a report within two weeks, raising questions over the police report.

A two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by the CJP Monday said that role of the capital police is a “moot point”.

The bench stopped all the public figures from giving statements over the issue till the conclusion of the investigation, taking notice of the interior minister’s statement regarding the death of additional and sessions judge Rafaqat Awan.

“We are also concerned over his (Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan) statement”, the CJP said in his remarks.

The apex court has also allowed the Islamabad High Court to continue its investigation regarding the incident.

Earlier, IHC chief justice had stopped the probe after suo motu action by the top court. “We want that the high court should also probe the matter”, Chief Justice (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani observed.

The bench further asked the government to enhance the compensation amount and provide jobs to children of those killed, if they are qualified.

The chief justice also said that they have directed the federal government to shift district courts to a safer place.

During the hearing, Awan’s reader Khalid Noon informed the bench that he is being pressurised to give statement that the judge died by the pistol bullet of his own guard. A senior police officer has threatened to involve him in the murder case as well.

The reader claimed that the judge was fired upon from the outside of the room.

On the other hand, Colonel (retd) Safdar Hussain, brother of the late judge, rejected the statement of the reader alleging that the guard and the reader were also part of the conspiracy.

The bench, however, told him to refrain from making such statements as he is not an eyewitness.

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, however, said that possibility of involvement of insiders could not be ruled out.

The court has rejected the requests of capital lawyers and the heirs of those killed in the terrorist attack regarding the registration of separate FIRs. It, however, directed the police to record their statements.

Earlier, Inspector-General (IG) of Islamabad Police submitted the preliminary report before the bench, wherein it was stated that there were two terrorists and police have recorded the statements of 153 persons regarding the incident.

The bench said neither the report exposes the plan of the terrorists nor the police took steps regarding their arrest. All the chief secretaries have submitted reports regarding the security of lawyers in their respective province.

The hearing was adjourned till next Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2014.