Christian couple’s case: Top court orders Punjab IG to supervise probe

ISLAMABAD:

The apex court has directed the Punjab police chief to personally supervise investigation into the killing of a Christian couple near Lahore last year.

On November 4, 2014, an enraged mob had beaten to death Shehzad and his spouse Shama in Kot Radha Krishan and burnt their bodies in a brick kiln after accusing them of desecrating the Holy Quran.

Hearing a suo motu case on the incident, a two-judge bench — comprising Justice Dost Muhammad and Justice Umar Bandial — asked Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) to include  two more officers in the investigation team, if needed.



The bench observed that it was giving police the last opportunity to accelerate its efforts, collect all the substantial evidence and inform the court about the same on the next date of hearing.

“In the next hearing [to be held on March 24], we will examine whether there is a need for a judicial inquiry over police negligence in this matter. If necessary, the court will ask the Punjab government to hold a judicial inquiry,” the bench noted.

The court also directed police to provide security to the family members of the deceased and ordered immediate arrest of all those accused of committing the crime.

The bench also directed Punjab’s prosecutor general to constitute a team of three senior prosecutors to assist in the investigation and later to argue the case before the trial court.

In order to strengthen the case, the court said, opinion should be sought from the prosecutors and Punjab’s prosecutor general should take statements from the victim’s family members and preserve them for future use.

Earlier, the SC bench asked Punjab police if it wanted to hand over the country into the hands of extremists. “Does Islam teach us to treat the minorities like that,” asked Justice Dost Muhammad. “The incident is a stigma on the face of a country and gives birth to intolerance.”

Earlier, the police told the court that out of 142 accused, 90 had been arrested. None of them have confessed their part in the crime though. Hectic efforts are under way to round up the remaining proclaimed offenders.

The bench observed that Punjab police could make a confess when they wanted to. “But it is quite surprising that 90 people have been arrested but none of them have accept his crime,” the bench said.

Justice Dost said it is astonishing that despite prior knowledge of the incident, no police officer reached the spot on time.

Until all evidence is collected there is no point in submitting challans, the court said, adding that due to weak challan the accused are being acquitted and the court has to bear the brunt.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2015.