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Anti-judiciary banners: SC seeks response from IG Islamabad in 7 days
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday resumed hearing the case regarding the display of posters and banners inscribed with anti-judiciary remarks in the Red Zone of the federal capital and ordered Inspector General Islamabad Police Aftab Cheema to respond in seven days over the matter.
During today’s hearing, IG Islamabad Police Aftab Cheema appeared before the bench and told that Rashid, the key accused in the case, has been arrested. On this, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja questioned him about how and when those banners were placed.
IG Aftab Cheema responded that interrogation is currently underway as the accused have been arrested. He further told that he has visited the places where the defaming banners were displayed.
On this, Justice Gulzar Ahmed questioned if those spots were hidden where the banners had been displayed.
Replying to this, the IG Islamabad Police told that those banners had been displayed far away from the police check posts. Initially, police had earlier removed the banners that were later displayed again. There were approximately 22 banners, he added.
Expressing his wonder, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked that even the judges are stopped and questioned if they step out after dusk but the people who install banners are not questioned.
The judges also remarked that every Pakistani is concerned over the matter as the culprits who displayed 22 banners could have planted 22 bombs as well.
The court, then, instructed the IG Islamabad Police to detail reasons for such incompetence in seven days.
On June 20, the SC had ordered to arrest the culprits involved in displaying anti-judiciary banners in the red zone and sought a report till July 2 (today).
Deputy Attorney General Khawaja Ahmed Hussain had apprised the bench that the painter of those banners had been arrested, however, the man who ordered the banners had not been apprehended.
Justice Ejaz Afzal questioned the deputy AG if only two persons were responsible of the act. Responding to this, the deputy AG said that they were investigating the matter but remained unsuccessful in catching the responsible persons. On this, Justice Ejaz Afzal termed it a strange action and said that if the deputy AG is unaware of the culprits he should contact the interior secretary and inspector general of police.
Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt had earlier informed the bench that the mastermind of the act had been arrested while three persons allegedly involved in displaying posters and banners in the federal capital against the judiciary had also been caught.
He had told that further investigation from the mastermind was underway.
The court, then, ordered the authorities to arrest every single person involved in this crime and sought progress report, and adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk