LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over inordinate delay in DNA report of blood samples of a boy allegedly killed by former state minister Siddique Kanju’s son Mustafa Kanju.

The bench observed that it was a high profile case and the prosecution should have shown some responsibility and seriousness.

The bench headed by Justice Shahid Hameed Dar was hearing an appeal of the prosecution department against acquittal of Mustafa Kanju in the murder case.

During the hearing, Punjab Prosecutor General Ehtesham Qadir Shah stated that the DNA report of victim Zain’s blood samples was yet to be prepared by the forensic laboratory. He said blood stains of Zain were found in Mustafa’s car as Zain was taken to hospital in the vehicle.

The bench expressed serious dismay over the undue delay in preparation of the report and questioned efficiency of the forensic laboratory. The bench directed the prosecutor to submit the DNA report by Dec 28.

Earlier, the prosecutor argued the trial court decided acquittal application of Mustafa in haste without examining facts of the case. He said the trial court did not record statements of police witnesses.

The prosecutor general said the trial court allowed acquittal application of the suspect exclusively on the basis of retracted witnesses of the prosecution. He asked the bench to issue admit notices on the appeal and start regular hearing.

An anti-terrorism court had on Oct 27 acquitted Mustafa Kanju and his guards of charges of killing 16-year-old Zain and injuring another Hasnain.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2015