LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday acquitted all 41 suspects in 2015 lynching of two Muslims outside Youhannabad following an out-of-court compromise between the parties.

On the previous hearing, legal heirs of the deceased – Naeem and Babar – had recorded their statements before the court saying they had forgiven the suspects and had no objection if they were acquitted.

ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta announced the verdict and freed the suspects in the light of the compromise.

Meanwhile, the judge gave the benefit of the doubt to 47 other suspects and acquitted them in cases of ransacking and vandalism on Ferozepur Road in the aftermath of the suicide attack on two churches in Youhannabad.

Nishtar Colony police had lodged four cases of the incident against 43 suspects. Later, two of the suspects had died during the judicial remand.

Hospital waste case: Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid on Wednesday told the Lahore High Court that effective measures were being taken to control coronavirus in addition to an awareness campaign among citizens.

She stated this during her appearance before Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh in a case relating to non-disposal of hospital waste.

The minister told the court that there had been some issues with the outsourced companies responsible for disposing of the medial waste of hospitals. However, she said the issues would be resolved at the earliest.

Responding to court’s queries about shortage of specialised and new hospitals, Dr Rashid said inauguration of a 600-bed Mother and Child Hospital in Lahore was going to be held soon while PC-I for Jinnah Hospital-II had been approved.

She said the projects of general hospitals were also on cards for Rajanpur, Layyah and Attock. She said as a whole five hospitals for mother and child care were being constructed in the province while health cards had been distributed among 6.2 million citizens.

The CJ adjourned hearing and sought progress report on disposal of hospital waste.

Wheat import: The chief justice turned down an application for staying import of wheat.

Representing a petition, Advocate Azhar Siddique urged the court to issue a stay order against the import of wheat. He said the shortage of wheat in the local market was artificial. He argued if wheat was imported, the local farmers would suffer a great loss as the next crop was ready.

A law officer told the court that the government had so far no plan to import wheat and export sugar.

About increase in sugar price, the counsel for the sugar mills association said the hike in price was due to a difference in supply and demand. He said sugar was available in open market for Rs75 to Rs80.

The chief justice observed that the sugar mills should have been shut if they were facing financial loss.

He adjourned hearing till Feb 3 and summoned record about stock, import and export of wheat and sugar besides a report on legislation about sugar mills.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2020