LHC ends suo motu hearing of encounter

LAHORE Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Thursday disposed of a suo motu case initiated taking note of the killing of a youth in a fake police encounter at Nishtar Colony last month. The CJ had moved to take action on the media reports of killing of the 22-year-old Shahbaz Butt, hours after he was handed over by the locals to the police on June 11 on the suspicion of an armed robbery. During earlier hearings, the CJ had also directed the trial court to decide the matter within 30 days after the receipt of the challan. The High Court had also ordered establishing a forum headed by DIG Maj (R) Mubashir Ullah to address public grievances against fake police encounters. It had also called for the details of all police encounters which had taken place since last year. On the last hearing, Additional Advocate General of the Punjab, Muhammad Hanif Khatana had the High Court that four accused involved in the matter of Butt had been arrested. During the ensuing proceedings, situation became strained when Aftab Bajwa, the counsel for the two encounter tag constables Asif and Abdul Qadir requested the court to change the investigating officer and include the name of Nishtar Colony SHO in the case. Bajwa, speaking on behalf of the mothers of the constables, pleaded before the court that they were innocent, while the SHO was the main culprit. His name was dropped from the case as he is a close relative of an Additional Inspector General of Police, he further informed the Chief Justice. Responding to his request, the CJ then had told advocate Bajwa that he should approach the trial court for that matter, which was the right platform for the purpose. Bajwa, clearly angry with the courts observation, further pleaded, Me Lord, pardon me, but it is painful that you become emotional on small things and do not listen to the cries of those who come to your court expecting justice. The CJ replied that people should come for justice through proper way by filing a separate petition in the court instead of forcing a court for converting a suo motu into a case for their benefit. The CJ also disposed of the suo motu notice, observing that the needful had been done and if the two constables claim to be innocent, they should prove it in the trial court. Flood report: The report of the Flood Inquiry Tribunal 2010, dated April 8, 2011 prepared by Mr Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah (Chairman), Mr Shafqat Masood (Member) and Mr Abdul Sattar Shakir (Member) has been released for the benefits of the public by the Lahore High Court by placing the same on the LHCs official website. The 405-page report tells many tales and comprises 11 chapters and covers the causes of breaches.

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