KARACHI, May 25: A judicial tribunal set up to probe the Nishtar Park carnage of April 11 is due to begin its proceedings on Friday. Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi will commence the inquiry at 11pm with statements from the advocate-general, the home department, the police and about 12 organizations, including Sunni Tehrik, on procedural matters and recording of evidence. All 15 respondents have been served. Besides seeking evidence directly through notices in the media, the tribunal has asked the respondents to file a list of witnesses they want to produce.

The inquiry has been instituted to ascertain the circumstances leading to the bomb blast and find out negligence and lapses, if any, on the part of law-enforcement agencies. It will fix the responsibility of persons directly or indirectly involved in the incident and recommend action against them. Effective measures to prevent recurrence, such tragic incidents, will also be suggested by the tribunal.