ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed the federal and provincial governments to take appropriate action against the Punjab inspector general police, the DIG and other police officers involved in the investigation of the murder of a woman from Khanewal within three days.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed hearing into a suo motu case on the stoning of a woman to death in Khanewal. Expressing dissatisfaction over the Punjab Police report on the murder of the mother of five, the chief justice observed that the IG and other investigation officers did not deserve to occupy such important positions meant for protection of the fundamental rights and security of the citizens. “The federal and provincial governments should look into the matter and examine whether such police officers should continue to work on these posts or not,” the court said.
“It is duty of the executive to move against those who are failing to protect the fundamental rights of the people,” the CJP observed. Earlier, IG Haji Habibur Rehman presented the report before the bench that was rejected by the CJP, who said the police had not taken prompt action against the killers. Punjab Advocate General Ashtar Osaf requested the court to give another chance to the police to carry a fresh probe into the case. The bench, however, denied the request. The court also directed the IG and the DPO to provide security cover to the victim’s family before disposing of the case for further action. – PT
