SC hears anti-judiciary banners case
July 22, 2014
A two-judge bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and Justice Dost Muhammad Khan was hearing the case.
During today’s proceedings, Deputy Attorney General Khuwaja Ahmed Hussain apprised the bench that the mastermind of the crime, Muhammad Rashid, has been apprehended and has admitted his crime in front of the magistrate.
On this, CJ Justice Nasirul Mulk questioned if the person who has been caught is the real accused or not. Responding to this, deputy attorney general told that police is investigating the matter and wanted to include Mubashir Lucman in the investigation who is currently abroad.
He further stated that the investigators don’t wish to limit the scope of the investigation to the confession statement of the key accused.
In the last hearing, the court had ordered Inspector General Islamabad Police Aftab Cheema to respond in seven days over the matter.
During today’s hearing, IG Islamabad Police Aftab Cheema appeared before the bench and told that Rashid, the key accused in the case, has been arrested. On this, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja questioned him about how and when the defaming banners were placed.
IG Aftab Cheema responded that interrogation is currently underway as the accused have been arrested. He further told that he has visited the places where those banners were displayed.
On this, Justice Gulzar Ahmed questioned if those spots were hidden where the banners had been displayed.
Replying to this, the IG Islamabad Police told that those banners had been displayed far away from the police check posts. Initially, police had earlier removed the banners that were later displayed again. There were approximately 22 banners, he added.
Expressing his wonder, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked that even the judges are stopped and questioned if they step out after dusk but the people who install banners are not questioned.
The judges also remarked that every Pakistani is concerned over the matter as the culprits who displayed 22 banners could have planted 22 bombs as well.
The court, then, instructed the IG Islamabad Police to detail reasons for such incompetence in seven days.
