SC seeks AG’s help on Hudood Ordinance
ISLAMABAD: A two-member bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the attorney general to assist the court on the matter relating to the Hudood Ordinance while hearing a case of Nazia Bibi and adjourned the hearing of the case for the first week of next month. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, heard the case and expressed complete dissatisfaction over the performance of the police team involved in dealing with the case of Zina Bil Jabar under the Hudood Ordinance 1979.
The bench directed the chief secretary Punjab and the inspector general police to take strict action against the police team for their negligence and send the matter of two superintendents of police (who are not in preview of the provincial government) involved in the investigation of the case to the Establishment Division for further action. The bench in its order said police officers Dr Inam and Ali Arsalan (both SPs) who did not handle the case properly would be sent back to the Establishment Division for further action. The chief secretary will pursue the case and both the officers will be discharged from their duty and not given any other field duty.
The bench directed the inspector general of police Punjab to depute new team of officers for the investigation of this case terming it an extraordinary case and challenge for the police force. The bench also discussed the implications of the case in detail and issued notice to the attorney general to assist the court on the said matter. Babar Awan advocate and Malik Muhammad Qayyum submitted written formulations on the matter who were asked to do so by the apex court during the last date of hearing of the case. In his formulations, Babar Awan has suggested a number of amendments to the existing Hudood Ordinance. Additional Advocate General Punjab, Khadim Hussain Qaiser also appeared before the court and submitted a progress report representing the state on notice. It may be mentioned here that Nazia Bibi, a thirteen years old and a resident of a locality, which falls in the jurisdiction of Satto Katla was kidnapped by Zahoor Ahmed and Ghulshan Bibi on June 23, 2005.
The accused Zahoor Ahmed kept the kidnapped girl at various places and committed zina with her for months. He was arrested from Okara on August 29, 2006. According to the police report, the accused admitted the offence during the investigation, who is still on physical remand. It is pertinent to mention here that the said girl also gave birth to a child, due to the abuse of the accused.
Source: The News
Date:4/10/2006
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