LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday observed that apparently the Punjab government was protecting the officials involved in Model Town incident by not making judicial inquiry report public.

A full bench headed by Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan was hearing petitions seeking release of report of the inquiry held into Model Town incident. Justice Anwarul Haq and Justice Abdul Sattar Asghar were other members of the bench.

Take a look: Model Town probe report: Govt ‘in no hurry’ to take action

At the outset of the hearing, an additional advocate general requested the bench to allow him more time to file the government’s reply on the matter.


Holding back probe report annoys court


The bench expressed serious dismay and observed that the government had been seeking time for the last eight months to file a reply only.

Justice Khan observed that it appeared the government wanted to protect the officials responsible for the incident by not making the inquiry report public. The bench gave last opportunity to the government’s counsel for submission of the reply and adjourned hearing till March 3.

Petitions filed by Idara Minhajul Quran, Judicial Activism Panel and others sought directions for the government to make public the judicial inquiry report. The petitioners through their counsels stated the government did not seem to be in a mood to release the inquiry report despite passage of more than eight months since the incident occurred.

They said at least 14 persons were killed and over 100 injured in the incident but the government wanted to protect the guilty officials. They asked the court to order the government to release the inquiry report without further delay.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the LHC had held the judicial inquiry into the June 17, 2014, incident.

Bail plea dismissed: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday dismissed bail petition of a man arrested for distributing anti-army literature.

The suspect through his counsel argued the police implicated him in the case. He denied the charges of distributing the anti-army literature and urged the court to release him on bail.

However, a deputy prosecutor told the court that police caught Muhammad Saeed red-handed from Naulakha area while distributing offensive literature. He said the police also recovered the literature from the suspect.

The court dismissed his petition.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...