SC rejects Punjab govt report on Badami Bagh arson incident
Supreme Court has rejected Punjab government report in Badami Baghi arson incident and again sought report from provincial government on March, 13.
A 3-member bench of SC presided over by the Chief Justice of Pakistan ( CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued an interim order here Monday in suo moto notice case of Badami Bagh arson incident.
The interim order said “prima facie IG Punjab police, CCPO and city police officer failed in providing protection to the people. Different stories are being told to the court that election was being held in Loha market and a Christian committed blasphemy during the elections. It is beyond comprehension of the court that how can the inmates of Joseph colony be linked to Loha market. Acting IG Punjab Police, advocate general Punjab and other senior officers appeared in the court. The court was told that election was going on in Loha market when the incident took place and a member of Christian community committed blasphemy. During the Jumma discourse, people were incited and they resorted to rioting. Justice Azmat Saeed remarked “you had told pridefully that people were pulled out and no loss to life had occurred. Where the people were kept after they were evacuated from the area. You have said in the report that some people had left the area on their own and the remaining were evacuated by police.
CJP remarked “nothing is said about the reasons and proceedings in your report. Court’s time was wasted on your report. Police has not even conducted investigation to ascertain what was the real matter. Is there no honest officer left in Punjab police. Punjab government has again talked about formation of commission. If this has to meet the same end what Gojra commission met then it be left. In the mean time court summoned report on Gojra incident and the court expressed regret on non availability of report.
CJP remarked “nothing is above the sanctity of last prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Blasphemy law is in place. Action be taken as per law. Earlier the entire Ramsha case proved false. Whenever any minorities’ related incident happens, Punjab government stays unmoved. Such police officer is appointed about whom the court restrains government to appoint and courts orders are blown into the air”. He further observed “the court be told who staged riots after 36 hours. Under whose orders the area was got vacated. IG should inform to whom he was affording benefit. Now the small things can not remain concealed and this is a major incident. No one will be allowed to violate law. When the culprit was arrested then why the riots occurred”.
He remarked there is mode for voicing the protest. Effective mode of protest was pursued in Quetta. Protest took place but not a single glass was smashed. Report on Gojra incident has not been made public so far.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed remarked “it seems the land was commercial and the entire thing was engineered to get evacuate the land. Value of respective land be told to the court.
Justice Gulzar Ahmad remarked “rioting continued and police played the role of spectator. Police is equally responsible for this incident. Advocate General told the court that the decision to evacuate the area was not taken by the senior officers and it was decision of an SHO. The court while issuing interim order adjourned the hearing of the case till March, 13.