Murder of Christian couple: SC orders action against police, two clerics

Asks investigation team to submit a comprehensive report

ISLAMABAD:

While hearing the suo motu case regarding the brutal killing of a Christian couple on November 4 in Kot Radha Kishen, the Supreme Court has directed the Punjab police to take disciplinary action against five police officials, who were present on the spot but failed to secure the deceased couple.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, also directed the police to arrest two local clerics for inciting people against the deceased Christian couple.

The court asked investigation team to submit a comprehensive report on the incident and the payment of compensation to heirs of the couple.



It also summoned DPO Kasur on January 15 for not taking security measures to avoid the incident as the police had prior information about the alleged desecration by a woman at brick kiln and the people’s violent reaction against it.

Additional Advocate General Punjab Razaq A Mirza appeared before the court along with SP Investigation. The chief justice expressed anger at the fact that despite the presence of police officials at the scene, why they did not react. Punjab AAG replied that they were held hostage and tortured by the mob.

Upon this, the chief justice asked whether a medical report was available that police officials were tortured, at which Mirza replied that “there is no such report in this regard.”

“Why they did not make an attempt to secure the Christian couple as they could disperse the mob through aerial firing,” the CJ questioned, adding that they were equally responsible for the crime. The court observed that if the police are not able to take action to protect the citizens then what else their duty is?

The chief justice also observed that it is the matter of concern that police department did not take action over their criminal negligence. On the query of the bench, Mirza told that the provincial government has given Rs5 million and ten acres land to heirs of the deceased couple.

The counsel for the owner of brick kiln told the bench “they [the owners] had informed the local police one day ago that some clerics are inciting people but no security measures were taken in this regard.

The bench also declared the Punjab police report as unsatisfactory and adjourned the case till January 15, 2015.

SC summons chief secretaries and IGs

The same bench has also summoned all provincial chief secretaries, the inspectors general of police and NADRA chairman in reference to the implementation of the court’s June 18 verdict regarding the protection of minority rights. The bench while hearing a case regarding the non-implementation of the court’s judgment on the protection of minority rights observed that solid measures were taken for the compliance of the court’s verdict.

During the hearing, Pakistan Hindu Council Patron in Chief Dr Ramesh Kumar lamented that despite his efforts, the provincial governments did not comply with the court’s verdict for reserving service quota for minorities as well as formation of task force for their protection, adding that similarly, NADRA is not removing the errors from Hindu marriage form.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2014.