March, 29 2005	Tuesday	18 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, March 28: The provincial government announced on Monday that it was ready to order a judicial probe into a police encounter on Feb 1 last in which two youths of Faisalabad had been killed. Law Minister Raja Basharat, responding to a call-attention notice by Rana Sanaullah, said he however was not ready to accept that the incident was not a genuine encounter because a constable had been gunned down and another seriously injured by the two accused.

Rana Sana had held rough attitude of police responsible for the incident. He claimed that the accused riding a motorcycle had been intercepted and insulted by police.

After exchange of hot words, the police opened fire on them, killing one of them as the other retaliated by snatching a gun from the police, he said, adding the second youth also fell victim to the police firing.

PPP’s Raja Riaz claimed that the constable had been killed by the police firing. He said he was ready to accept any punishment if the government proved that the victims were carrying weapons, as claimed by the law minister.

However, he said the probe should be conducted by other than the police.

The chair referred two privileges motions of PPP’s Samina Naveed and Sagheera Islam to the privileges committee pertaining to ‘misbehaviour’ of Dr Khurram Manzoor of the Jinnah Hospital and trespassing by Sheikhupura ASP Aijaz Ahmad Khan respectively.

Ms Naveed alleged that the medical officer had not attended her though she showed her VIP card to him. He rather was rude by asking her to come again the other day.

The chair, being held by Rai Ijaz Ahmad, directed the body to submit a report within two months. But on protest of Ms Naveed, he reduced the period to one month.

Mrs Islam alleged that the ASP along with a police contingent had entered her house without any search warrants and had arrested her relatives and some guests without giving any reason.

Later, a case of aerial firing was registered against all of them.