LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Thursday asked a provincial law officer to assist on a law point as to who would pay “diyat” (financial compensation) to legal heirs if a citizen was killed on a state property.

The chief justice was hearing a petition seeking an order for judicial inquiry into the incident of gang-rape on the motorway.

He posed a query to Additional Advocate General Malik Abdul Aziz Awan whether the government or the culprit would be legally responsible to pay the financial compensation to the victim’s family if a crime took place on a property owned by the state.

The CJ also asked the law officer to assist the court on this point in light of the Islamic injunctions.

AAG Awan sought time from the court to present his arguments on the legal question and the chief justice adjourned hearing for a fortnight.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Thursday directed the FIA and other authorities to submit detailed replies showing action being taken against blasphemy material available on the social media websites.

Earlier, FIA Director General Wajid Zia appeared before the court with a report on the matter. However, the chief justice expressed his dissatisfaction over the report and regretted that the matter despite being important was not on the priority of the government.

The FIA DG said 13 cases were registered and nine persons were arrested on the issue regarding derogatory material on social media against sacred personalities of Islam.

The CJ also expressed displeasure over the absence of the chairman of the PTA who was reportedly in Gilgit Baltistan. He directed a federal law officer to find a solution to the problem and apprise the court in detail by Oct 15.

Petitioner Liaquat Ali Chohan through his counsel questioned the inefficiency of the FIA in taking action against the delinquents involved in sharing derogatory remarks and pictures about the sacred personalities.

The counsel stated that the material was still available on the websites and no serious action was initiated against the persons who committed the crime and the authorities concerned were adamant not to get it removed from the internet.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2020