SC directs govt to present investigation report on flogging of girl case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court while completing hearing of suo motu notice in connection with flogging of a 17 years old girl of Swat in public has directed the government to present investigation report of the incident before the court after every 15 days.

8-memebr SC larger bench heard the case. The bench comprising justice Javed Iqbal, justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday, justice Faqir Khokhar, justice Chaudhry Ejaz Yousuf, justice Sardar Raza Khan, justice Mian Shakir Ullah Jan and justice Raja Fayyaz was headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan |(CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

At the inception of hearing Inspector General (IG) Police NWFP Malik Naveed Khan presented copy of FIR before the bench wherein it was mentioned it was not in the knowledge of the government where this incident had taken place. An investigation team had been constituted which was reviewing all the facts of the case, he informed. Two incidents of this nature pertaining to Chand Bibi and Mahro Jan occurred in the area. Girl identified in the footage being displayed in media was Chand Bibi who had appeared before commissioner Malakand Muhammad Javed along with her husband and told no such incident had happened with her. Her statement was on the record and she being burqa clad woman had refused to appear before media men, he added.

CJP remarked if she had appeared before commissioner then you should present her before the court so that the factual position could be ascertained.

President NWFP High Court Bar Latif Afridi contended life of the people was not secure in Swat and government writ stands abolished therein. Over 200 schools had been destroyed and lawyers were being prevented from going to courts, he added. Terrorists were not eliminated in military operation therein. Federal and provincial government signed peace deal and in consequence of this development, Taliban were earlier occupying two union councils had occupied the whole Swat.

Justice Sardar Raza asked Attorney General (AG) if government had signed peace accord or surrender accord.

AG submitted government was fully alive to its responsibilities and prevailing lawlessness would soon be eliminated and writ of law and constitution would be ensured therein. Justice Javed Iqbal observed it was matter of vital importance and was a source of grave concern. Religion of Islam was being wrongly interpreted, he added.

Citing to Surah Al- Nisa, Surah Noor and Surah Mahida he said it was clearly laid down in the Holy Quran as to how Sharia punishments were enforced.

CJP asked chief secretary NWFP what he had done so far in this matter. He told an important meeting was convened under chief minister NWFP soon after the footage of the incident was made public. All these matters came under discussion in the meeting, he added. Time be given to us to for investigation into this incident, he requested.

Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday observed court would come to know about your (chief secretary NWFP) when you in person would visit Keel, Mingora and Saidu Sharif to correct the situation.

Chief Secretary of NWFP told a five members committee had been established under DIG Swat to probe into the incident.

Hearing of the case was adjourned for indefinite period.