SC takes suo motu notice of Christian couple's lynching
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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
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (49) Closed
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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Nov 22, 2014 05:22pm
Good action, Mr. Chief Justice.
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Nov 22, 2014 05:33pm
Why "suo motu" ? Why not proper FIR by police?
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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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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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Nov 22, 2014 05:41pm
At last judiciary wakes up !
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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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Nov 22, 2014 05:46pm
The culprits will be acquitted, due to lack of evidence. Case closed.
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Nov 22, 2014 05:52pm
@Rahul - I agree. As long as there are no punishments nothing will change.
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Nov 22, 2014 06:02pm
Pakistan should protect its minorities and abolish this draconian blasphemy law..
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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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Nov 22, 2014 06:09pm
@Aly khan No it does not!!!
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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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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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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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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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Nov 22, 2014 06:47pm
Why discriminate with those muslims killed in Model town with massacre?
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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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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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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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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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Nov 22, 2014 07:04pm
So what. Nothing will change. Mark my words.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Nov 22, 2014 07:29pm
It's a high time
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Nov 22, 2014 08:08pm
I wonder will they do the same for Ahmadi tragedies like recent Gujranwala incident?
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Nov 23, 2014 02:53am
@Harmony Only FOUR people have been arrested, as per DAWN.
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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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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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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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