SC takes suo motu notice of Christian couple's lynching

E-Paper | June 23, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Taking suo motu notice of the killing of a Christian couple in Kot Radha Kishan on November 4, the Supreme Court on Saturday directed the provincial government of Punjab to submit a report within three days.

Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk took suo motu notice of the Kot Radha Kishan incident in which a Christian couple was allegedly beaten to death by a mob and their bodies were burnt in a brick kiln on allegations of blasphemy.

Examine: Christian couple beaten to death for 'desecrating Quran': police

CJ Nasirul Mulk has directed the Punjab government to present a report within three days over the incident.

The apex court also directed the federal government to submit a response on the implementation of the June 19 verdict of the Supreme Court regarding protection of minorities' rights.

Examine: SC orders effective police action to protect minorities

On November 7, the Supreme Court had sent a reminder to the federal government and the provincial governments to submit a report regarding the process and had directed them to constitute a national council for minorities’ rights which has so far not been implemented.

Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in the country, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence. Anyone convicted, or even just accused, of insulting Islam, risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes.

Read: Relatives of murdered Christian couple demand justice

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Rahul

Nov 22, 2014 05:08pm

Pakistan has not managed to successfully prosecute a single case of terrorism in the last 1 year. Courts issue a lot of sound bites for the media but there is never any outcome.

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Akhlesh

Nov 22, 2014 05:22pm

Good action, Mr. Chief Justice.

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Dr Carla

Nov 22, 2014 05:33pm

Why "suo motu" ? Why not proper FIR by police?

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Aly khan

Nov 22, 2014 05:37pm

Thank god out court has woken up. I believe purely because of pressure from western human rights groups. Islam encourages freedom of practicing any religions and respect of rights of minorities.

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Aly khan

Nov 22, 2014 05:39pm

Courts need to be held accountable in terms of giving number of cases decided every month Reason Pakistan is such a mess because the judiciary system is week and partly corrupt

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mib

Nov 22, 2014 05:41pm

At last judiciary wakes up !

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Gordon D Walker

Nov 22, 2014 05:44pm

This outrageous killing in the name of blasphemy goes unnoticed, not commented on, not an eyebrow raised by your Nobel winner Malala. The reason is simple: Malala is irrelevant. Just a kid in the U K dancing to the music of Justine Bieber! Where is the voice of reason? It is not in the U K trying to finish high school...

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Sunil

Nov 22, 2014 05:46pm

The culprits will be acquitted, due to lack of evidence. Case closed.

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G.A.

Nov 22, 2014 05:52pm

@Rahul - I agree. As long as there are no punishments nothing will change.

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Ramesh Krishnan

Nov 22, 2014 06:02pm

Pakistan should protect its minorities and abolish this draconian blasphemy law..

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sheikh

Nov 22, 2014 06:04pm

Why so late ? Another reflection of Government failure that court had to take the notice. Any way most important whether justice is done or not ? Wait and see.

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One Who Cares

Nov 22, 2014 06:09pm

@Aly khan No it does not!!!

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Akram

Nov 22, 2014 06:09pm

@Sunil compare and contrast with the mass murder of muslims in Gujerat by modi and mob. we are prosecuting the killers of one couple, you elected them to government! I hardly think any indians are in any position to take any moral high ground one this issue!

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Dilectus

Nov 22, 2014 06:10pm

Glad to know Supreme Court doing something else other than sending contempt of court notices to everyone!!!

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Naeem Syed

Nov 22, 2014 06:20pm

Wow it took 18 day for this news to reach the Supreme Court and for it to react to this tragedy of international Importance. What are these Justices doing? Were they waiting for instructions from someone. Just on this issue there should be some penalty for tardiness on the every justice of this Court.

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yogi

Nov 22, 2014 06:24pm

@Aly khan Islam allows practice of any religion. Does not allow forced conversion. It is a complete religion spreading peace.It is a religion of tolerance. BUT Islam has been hijacked Yogi

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Umiiii

Nov 22, 2014 06:47pm

Why discriminate with those muslims killed in Model town with massacre?

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Abp

Nov 22, 2014 06:49pm

At last... However, it is never too late. Within one week, Supreme Court should set the precedent by awarding death sentence to those responsible. Enough is enough.

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Mac1960

Nov 22, 2014 06:50pm

Can Dawn give a complete history of suo moto actions by SC and what was the final result of such court actions.

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Harmony

Nov 22, 2014 07:00pm

@Dr Carla - There already are a huge number of arrests in this case. Suo motu is because of the seriousness (a good step) of the case. So, know before you speak.

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Sudhanshu Swami

Nov 22, 2014 07:02pm

@Akram Probably you didnt follow news etc. Both The Godhra rioters and retaliators were punished by court. Many people accused Modi for failed CM. None of accusers accused modi for riots in courts. Manufacturing stories is easy timepass. Fact was that there was a pre planned burning by one group, then there was retaliation, and re retaliation, those both came down and in control within 2 days. Army was present in Gujrat in 2 days.

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Gfellow

Nov 22, 2014 07:04pm

So what. Nothing will change. Mark my words.

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Waqar

Nov 22, 2014 07:13pm

The root of the problem is the blasphemy law and its understanding... Can the Courts declare the law void for breaching human rights....NOT IN A MILLION YEARS... pointless exercise and a waste of public money...

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Abdul Malik

Nov 22, 2014 07:13pm

This action bug the CJP should have been taken immediately after the incident. What took him so long?

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Aisha

Nov 22, 2014 07:18pm

@Rahul Why dont you mind with your own thousand of Pending cases in your own court honey !!!! We have problems we will solve and we will keep working on our issues kindly stay out

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Indian

Nov 22, 2014 07:22pm

@Gordon D Walker "This outrageous killing in the name of blasphemy goes unnoticed, not commented on, not an eyebrow raised by your Nobel winner Malala." Would you please stop attacking that innocent girl? I understand your feelings as she didn't accepted your award. But please don't blame her. She as a kid; may not has any control to take the decision independently. So please make your heart big and forgive her.

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Jawad

Nov 22, 2014 07:23pm

@Naeem Syed 18 days -- yes. But you need to give sometime to police to see if they are on it. And eventually when you see no action from the police or government , then courts will intervene. So I think at least in this case , the action from CJ is just , not too late , not too early. ( I mean , you have to give some time to authorities to see if they give a damn. )

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Indian

Nov 22, 2014 07:28pm

@Naeem Syed "Wow it took 18 day for this news to reach the Supreme Court and for it to react to this tragedy of international Importance. What are these Justices doing? Were they waiting for instructions from someone." Don't blame Supreme Court. It's not their job to keep taking suo motu on each and every matter. They have to follow procedure etc. They take suo motu ONLY in enough is enough situation. And that means Govt. has failed to take care of that matter.

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Rizwan

Nov 22, 2014 07:29pm

It's a high time

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meharali

Nov 22, 2014 08:08pm

I wonder will they do the same for Ahmadi tragedies like recent Gujranwala incident?

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komal s

Nov 22, 2014 08:16pm

@Gordon D Walker wake up! Pakistanis did not give noble prize to her. In fact most of the Pakistanis do not appreciate sh egot noble prize. As an Indian, I do jot think Malala should get political. She should focus on girl education and not get carried away.

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Javed

Nov 22, 2014 08:24pm

First hang Salman Taseer's killer to show you are serious. Otherwise this just a joke,waste of time and adds more insult to injury.

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Seedoo

Nov 22, 2014 08:32pm

@Dr Carla Because the Judiciary thinks Sup Muto is a Japanese dish. By taking such action, they can show to the world that they have done their part and then wash their hands off it.

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Brad

Nov 22, 2014 08:37pm

How about taking Suo Motu notice of the murderer of Salman Taseer not held accountable for his heinous crime. Until the judiciary musters the courage to do that, the rest is just sham. The judiciary will pass judgments and the Sharifs will simply ignore it. As long as the corrupt, dishonest and thieves continue to rule Pakistan, the oppressed will continue to be victimized.

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Nov 22, 2014 08:41pm

@Rahul How right you are!

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NaveedJ

Nov 22, 2014 08:41pm

Barri dair kar di meharbaan aatay aatay. Wondering if the PPP was sitting in center government, how fast this decision would have come.

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Moiz Omar

Nov 22, 2014 09:07pm

Why is that there are only "notices" by the Supreme Court and the Government, and no real action is actually taken?

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Syed Ahmed

Nov 22, 2014 10:28pm

Wow! A really good move. It should not short of severe punishment. What stopped the CJ in taking suo motu notice of the ferocious killing of innocent people in Model Town, Lahore on June 16/17 in which no one has yet been arrested after a lapse of 5 months nor declared proclaimed offenders. This is selective justice.

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Khanm

Nov 22, 2014 11:24pm

Let me ask a very basic question. How many suo motu the Chief Justice have taken so far. What were the end results. Nothing.... Suo motu have become sooooo mute.

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Salim A

Nov 22, 2014 11:28pm

The entire Pakistani nation should be ashamed of itself for killing its citizens in the name of religion. Who and how many will be positively influenced by such acts??? Time to look in the mirror and see the ugliness of what we have bred amongst us.

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Salim A

Nov 22, 2014 11:36pm

Nothing will change until the courts / justices find the courage to strike down Blasphemy laws as in-human and unconstitutional.

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Parvez

Nov 23, 2014 12:03am

The dact that he SC had to step in....is testement to the fact that the government had no intention of doing its job.

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Justwsf

Nov 23, 2014 02:06am

why suo motu? where is police,SHO or constables? why not only FIR is enough? why courts need if sho is there?

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Justice4All

Nov 23, 2014 02:30am

If a society can become Barbarians with a single Loudspeaker announcement , one must envision the evil that has been rooted deep inside each and every person of the society. It is going to engulf others, then slowly within. Education scope needs to be broad enough to create an inclusive atmosphere. It won't be a imminent change but a process that will happen over decades. Patience is a virtue and it needs to be learnt, taught and practiced. Condemning of this gruesome incident at least indicates there are noble souls that thinks what has happened is evil. Need of the hour is those noble souls should take this up and protect the endangered people until the time is right.

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Vijay (Toronto)

Nov 23, 2014 02:53am

@Harmony Only FOUR people have been arrested, as per DAWN.

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Dr. Abdul Manan

Nov 23, 2014 03:04am

Thank You Sir Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk. May Allah bless you. Please, keep playing your role with honor and dignity. We are with you Sir.

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Jason

Nov 23, 2014 03:18am

Supreme Court? In Pakistan? When did that happen?

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Nov 23, 2014 09:00am

This law is used to kill minorities.SUNNIS love it.PAKISTAN law makers are really bright people.Wonderful idea to reduce the population of minorities.;

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Roger Dsouza - Mumbai

Nov 23, 2014 10:58am

Its good to see the number of Pakistani are speaking against it. But unless the number goes up and keeps rising it wont change anything. Unless minorities are given equal opportunities country wont move forward. In India minorities plays an important role in India's success. Maximum Education schools are run by Christian (30%), Maximum soldiers in Indian Army are Sikhs (40%). People of many culture gives a country a new dimension to move forward. If people of same mindset are there it wont go much far.

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