LAHORE: A judicial magistrate in Cantonment courts on Thursday concluded the trial proceedings in Khadija Siddiqui stabbing case after the prosecution and defence completed their arguments.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had on May 23 last taken an administrative notice of the delay in the trial and directed the court to conclude it within 30 days by holding a day-to-day hearing.

Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Awan seized with the trial took over two months to wind up the proceedings.

During the trial proceedings, the prosecution presented 11 witnesses to establish the accused guilty of having attempted murder. The defence had requested the court to delete the offence of attempted murder from the FIR, however, its plea was turned down by the judge.

Verdict likely tomorrow

On a previous hearing, the magistrate also rejected an application of the prosecution to put the accused on the Exit Control List.

The magistrate is likely to announce his verdict on July 29.

Houbara Bustard: The LHC reconstituted a commission formed to determine whether hunting permits being issued to foreign dignitaries by the government ensured sustainability of Houbara Bustard.

Allowing two identical applications, Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah included petitioners (lawyers) Kaleem Ilyas and Sheraz Zaka as members of the commission headed by senior lawyer Dr Pervez Hassan.

The commission also comprises officials of Punjab Wildlife Department, Houbara Foundation, petitioners, residents of hunting areas, members of World Wildlife Fund and non-government organisations.

Earlier, commission’s chairman Dr Hassan told the court that surveys of the hunting areas would have to be conducted to finalise the report. He said the report would be concluded by the end of January 2018.

The CJ adjourned hearing of the case till submission of the commission’s report.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2017