Thursday, May 05, 2011



SC demands FIR filed against ZAB from Punjab IGP

By Hasnaat Malik

ISLAMABAD: Expressing its dismay over the Punjab Police’s failure to produce the original file that contained the FIR registered against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) and the supplementary notes of the investigation officer regarding the case, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday again directed the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) to provide it these documents on Thursday (today).

The 11-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is hearing presidential reference filed for revisiting the Bhutto case.

During the course of proceedings, Punjab Advocate General (AG), Khawaja Haris, informed the court that the provincial police had found the Register 9. He said that according to the police they had given original file to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The CJ expressed dissatisfaction over the Punjab AG’s reply and said four files were prepared in each case.

Justice Javed Iqbal, during the hearing, observed that if the case had been suspended then it could be reopened, but in this case it was consigned to record due to non-availability of evidence. The CJ remarked that the pen which was used for judgment against ZAB was the most valueable. At the outset of hearing, counsel for federation, Babar Awan, pleaded that three separate agencies carried out investigation into the ZAB case.

He informed that the Bhutto’s trial was not of regular nature, as it was conducted in absentia.

“A special bench was constituted and questions were put in the mouth of judges,” he said and added, “Lahore High Court played the role of a military trial court, as the judges were reporting everything to the chief martial law administrator (CMLA).

“One of the respondents in the Bhutto case was the then PCO judiciary,” Babar contended.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till Thursday (today).

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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