I, AMONGST so many others, recently witnessed a news clip showing two brothers being brutally beaten to death in Sialkot in front of police officials, whilst the crowd looked on numbly as if it was a scene from a film. The two brothers died on the spot and then their bodies were scandalously hanged upside down.

The Chief Justice has taken suo motu action on the barbaric killings of these two innocent brothers. But for how long will the Supreme Court keep on taking suo motu actions without the open and unequivocal support of the public and the lawyers' community?

Although suo motu actions force an issue to become “breaking news”, the guilty are seldom brought to justice. In fact, the case proceeds at a snail's pace. Soon people forget the incident.

My proposal to the Chief Justice is to appoint an honest District Judge (not of Sialkot) to conduct the trial of the accused (who can be seen beating those two innocent brothers in the video) along with the Police personnel and people who hanged them as seen in that video. The District Judge has jurisdiction to conduct such trials.

The Supreme Court should strictly direct the District Judge to conduct the trial in one week. He should order the arrest of those persons, including police personnel, for aiding and abetting the murder of the two brothers and produce them before the District Judge for trial.

The video tape is sufficient evidence and admissible under law. The manner in which these people were beating down on and hitting those two brothers shows their intention to kill.

The inaction of the police personnel while the beatings were taking place and their inaction while those barbarians committed murder show their intention to abet the crime and violate the oath which they had taken to protect and preserve the lives of Pakistanis.

There remains no doubt after the release and seeing of the video that the prosecution will be able to prove their case beyond a reason of doubt.

The District Judge within next week should give an appropriate sentence to these people and direct the execution within one week from the date of sentence without any right of appeal.

This may appear to be a violation of natural justice and fair hearing in the strict legal sense. I may be criticised by people for proposing such drastic measures but I believe that this is the need of the time.

CHAUDHRY ATIF RAFIQ
Karachi

(II)

THE way brothers Hafiz Mughees and Hafiz Muneeb were publicly beaten to death in Sialkot just 24 hours after the Independence Day has forced every Pakistani to hang his head in shame.

In the past feudals had forced women to march naked on the streets -- not once but on several occasions -- but justice was not delivered and culprits were never punished.

Had the successive governments taken stern action, we Pakistanis and the world would not have seen another instance of brutality on our television screens.

Thanks to the Pakistani media for highlighting the issue, and the Chief Justice of Pakistan for taking suo motu notice of the incident.

But just taking suo motu notice will not serve the purpose. The criminals must be taken to task or publicly hanged in order to establish the writ of the state.

If people had the courage to witness on their TV sets the two brothers being beaten to death, I am sure they will gather in greater numbers to witness the public hanging of the culprits.

The punishment in the form of suspension of the police officials present at the time of the incident is not enough. At least 10 years of rigorous imprisonment must be handed down to every policeman who allowed the incident to continue.

Television channels are requested to stop running the clip of the incident as it is causing depression among people. If such incidents are allowed to go unnoticed, we will be facing the wrath of God.

M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA
Karachi

(III)

THE incident at Sialkot portrays the sadistic nature of our society.

The campaign for Pakistan's independence visualised a state that would have justice and equality for all.

Instead we have a country which is rife with lawlessness and a law and order system which is built around corrupt and vile people.

Where are non-governmental organisations which champion human rights' ideals? Why are they silent against the brutal murder of these two young brothers?

These two brothers were not only excellent students but were also well-respected members of their city.

The fact is that NGOs have been exposed by their inaction against this crime.

MUHAMMAD MOBEEN RAMAY
Toronto