Special court reserves judgment on Musharraf’s plea seeking FIA inquiry report

 

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court hearing the high treason case on Friday reserved the decision on the accused Pervez Musharraf’s plea seeking copies of the inquiry and investigation report of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the action taken on November 3, 2007.
A three-member Special Court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab and comprising Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali, resumed hearing in the high treason case against former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharaf for imposing the emergency rule in the country on November 3, 2007.

Continuing his arguments in rebuttal to the prosecution, Barrister Farogh Naseem, counsel for Pervez Musharraf, questioned as to whether the court and prosecution did not want that the instant trial should be conducted in a fair manner, adding that in order to ensure a fair trial, all the material including inquiry and investigation report of the Federal Investigation Agency had to be provided to the accused so that he could plead his case effectively.

The learned counsel contended that if all this material was not provided to the accused, then the trial could be restarted. He further submitted that the investigation report of FIA does not fall in the ambit of the Official Secrets Act that could be concealed from the defence.

At this, Dr Tariq Hassan from the prosecution side told the court that the investigation report of FIA does fall in the ambit of the Official Secrets Act and that was why it was being kept secret.

Justice Faisal Arab, however, observed that if the investigation report was secret, it would not have been released to the media.Farogh Naseem further contended that he was not asking the investigation report of FIA only but also seeking the whole record pertaining to the instant case, adding that without these, there would not be a fair trial.

He requested the court to issue directives for providing all the record pertaining to the case to the accused so that he could plead the case in an effective manner.Meanwhile, the court reserved the decision on the application and adjourned the hearing till April 28. The court ruled that it would take up other two applications, filed by the accused including seeking the trial of other persons under Article 6 of the Constitution who advised the accused to impose the emergency rule on November 3, 2007.

PM orders judicial inquiry into attack on Hamid Mir

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the attack on senior journalist and Geo news anchorperson Hamid Mir.
In this regard, the prime minister decided to constitute a three-member judicial commission to probe the murder attempt on Hamid Mir. A formal request would be sent to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to nominate three members of the commission.

The government also announced a reward of Rs10 million for any information leading to the arrest of the culprits.Meanwhile, journalists and civil society members held countrywide protest demonstrations against the attack on Hamid Mir and demanded of the government to take immediate measures to provide protection to journalists.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists, and the National Press Club held a protest demonstration against the attack on Hamid Mir and demanded the arrest of the culprits involved in the attack.

Journalists of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad gathered in front of the Press Club and called for providing security to the journalist community. Speaking on the occasion, leaders of the journalist community said freedom of the press could not be muzzled through such cowardly attacks.

They demanded that the culprits involved in the attack on Hamid Mir should be brought to justice at the earliest.The journalists prayed for the early recovery of Hamid Mir and paid tributes to him for his professionalism and dedication.

Meanwhile, journalists, politicians, lawyers, intellectuals and notables from civil society along with a large number of people protested against the attack on Hamid Mir at the Lahore Press Club.

The protest was jointly called by the Lahore Press Club, Punjab Union of Journalists, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Electronic Media Reporters Association, Electronic Media Cameramen Association and Photojournalists Association.

The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against curbs on the freedom of press. They demanded that the inquiry into the incident be made public and those responsible be given exemplary punishment.

Geo Lahore Bureau Chief Khawar Naeem Hashmi said journalists had braved the most excruciating tortures and life-threatening situations in Pakistan which continued to be among the most dangerous countries for journalists. But it had not deterred media persons from performing their duties. He said Hamid Mir had always been the torch-bearer of truth and journalism.

Imtiaz Alam and Asma Jahangir said the situation was now beyond the limit of endurance and the role of the security apparatus and agencies in deciding who was a patriot would not be allowed any more. They said even if the agencies were not involved in the attack, they should bring to justice the responsible persons and any lapse in this regard would reek of their involvement.

IA Rahman, Najam Sethi and Jugnu Mohsin said the attack on Hamid Mir would not be allowed to become another Saleem Shahzad case, the results of which were never shared and those responsible were never brought to justice. They said it was unacceptable that anyone could dictate through bullets what the media should report or not.

They said the matter was a test case for the government because it would decide if the actors behind the brutal act would be deterred or encouraged.PTI leaders Shafqat Mahmood, Andaleeb Abbas and Ejaz Chaudhry also participated in the protest as did the PPP’s social media team. They condemned the attack and prayed for the speedy recovery of Hamid Mir while assuring that they would stand with the media and for freedom of the press.

Hina Jilani while condemning the attack said absolute transparency was required in the investigation and it was imperative that the results of the probe be compiled as soon as possible.In Nankana Sahib, members of the press club and District Union of Journalists took out a rally against the attack on Hamid Mir in Karachi.

The rally started from the press club and concluded at Burewala Chowk. Speaking on the occasion, press club office bearers said that nobody can surpress the voice of rights through cruel actions. They said that the media was the fourth pillar of the state and such cowardly acts cannot stop journalists from doing their duty. They demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.

Journalists staged a demonstration in Arifwala. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the attack. The members of the PML-N, JI, PPP, PTI, Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran, DBA, PMA and Apca also joined the rally. The speakers strongly condemned the attack on Hamid Mir and demanded a high-level judicial commission to launch an inquiry into the incident.

Journalists and civil society members held protest demonstrations in Bahawalpur and condemned the attack on Hamid Mir.

Journalists also took out a rally in Okara. The rally was led by Okara Press Club president and District Union of Journalists president. The rally started from the OPC and culminated at Gole Chowk. The journalists chanted slogans against the attackers who tried to kill Hamid Mir. They demanded the immediate arrest of the accused persons.

In Pakpattan, members of the press club staged a demonstration. Meanwhile, various politicians including PML-N leader Sardar Mansib Ali Dogar, ex-MNA Mian Ahmad Raza Khan Maneka, PML-Q leader MPA Pir Ahmad Shah Khagga, MPA Mian Naveed Ali, PTI leader Rao Naseem Hashim, PML-N district president Khan Imtiaz Ali Khan, PPP district president Mian Humayun Sarwar Bodla, ex-tehsil nazim Dewan Azmat, PPP leader Mian Naseem Mehmood, PPP leader Rao Jamil Hashim Khan, JI city ameer Rana Abdul Rauf and others condemned the cowardly attack on Hamid Mir and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

Protest demonstrations against attack on Hamid Mir were also held in Burewala, Lalamusa, Kasur, Hasilpur, Mubarakpur, Bahawalnagar, Haroonabad, Khanpur, Liaqatpur and Rahimyar Khan.

Journalists also held protest demonstration in Karachi and condemned the attack on Hamid Mir.In Naudero, journalists and civil society members staged protest demonstration outside Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Press Club.

The participants of the rally condemned the attack on Hamid Mir and chanted slogans against the government for its failure to arrest the culprits. They were holding banners inscribed with slogans ‘Don’t Kill the Freedom of Expression - Its a right’; ‘Provide security to Journalists - Don’t target them’.

Protest demonstrations were also held in different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. People, mostly journalists, thronged the streets to register their extreme indignation against the attack on Hamid Mir in Karachi.

SC directs Secretary Interior to constitute new JIT for inquiry of court tragedy

ISLAMABAD: A two-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Tassadaqu Hussain Jillani directed Secretary Interior to constitute a new joint investigation team (JIT), headed by an independent and upright officer of Deputy Inspector General of Police for inquiry of Islamabad District Courts tragedy in which 11 persons were killed and 32 injured.
The bench also directed the Secretary to include representatives of the intelligence agencies with mandate to complete the inquiry within two weeks and submit report before the Supreme Court.
The bench of the Supreme Court expressed displeasure over the reports submitted by the Inspector General of Police and the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad pointing out some contradictions between the two reports and directed the Secretary Interior to submit a detailed report in the court after covering all areas of the tragedy including the numbers of assailants.
The bench also stopped all the stakeholders to issue statements on the issue saying that it could cause confusion during the conduct of inquiry.
Rao Naveed Advocate who is also son of deceased Rao Rashid advocate who was killed by the assailants on March 3, 2014 appeared before the court and requested the bench to allow him for the registration of separate FIR and directions may please be issued.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Tassadaqu Hussain Jillani and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed heard the point of view of Rao Naveed in detail and observed that "No separate FIR can be registered." However, the bench directed the Inspector General of Police Islamabad Sikandar Hayat to allow every one for recording statement before the police regarding the incident.
Mohsan Akhtar Kiyani, President Islamabad High Court Bar Association apprised the bench about compensation being paid to deceased and injured saying that the government announced Rs. 500,000 for each deceased and Rs. 75,000 for each injured which is not proper compensation.
The bench directed Secretary Interior to enhance compensation for deceased and injured even government should also consider jobs for a son or daughter of every deceased.
However, the bench asked Chief Justice Islamabad High Court to continue inquiry being conducted through a judge of the Islamabad High Court with direction to submit the report as completed.
Inspector General of Police appeared before the court and apprised the bench about the progress of the inquiry being conducted by the police and said that statements of 154 witnesses have already been recorded. Statements of lawyers will be recorded without delay.
The Inspector General of Police also briefed the bench about security measures taken and being taken for the security of District Courts Islamabad.
To a question raised by the bench regarding number of assailants, the Chief Commissioner Islamabad apprised the court that inquiry is in progress and "No final figure has been determined so far".
Tariq Asad Advocate and Riaz Hanif Rahi advocate appeared before the court and requested the bench to entertain the petitions filed by them separately on the same issue.
The bench accepted the request and directed the office to fix their petitions along with the suo motu case in future.
On the request of Taufeeq Asif Advocate, the bench directed the office concerned to club the petition filed by lawyers of Rawalpindi regarding security of lawyers of the twin cities.
The hearing of the case was then adjourned for March 17 (Monday)

Dasti demands transparent judicial inquiry

ISLAMABAD: Independent Member National Assembly Jamshed Dasti on Wednesday demanded judicial inquiry to investigate his allegations.
Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, Jamshed Dasti refused to appear before the National Assembly's seven-member committee saying 'I am not culprit'.
He lauded the government's decision to include all stake-holders in the dialogue process with Taliban.
Jamshed Dasti said that the government should be given free hand for dialogue with Tahreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups.
He said that some foreign elements did not want to success of peace process in the country.