Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday took notice of the acquittal of a man earlier convicted for brutally attacking law student Khadija Siddiqui with a knife.
Justice Nisar has summoned the case's record at the apex court's Lahore registry on Sunday (June 10), according to a press release issued by the Supreme Court.
The top judge's notice comes a day after Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem of the LHC, through a short order, acquitted Shah Hussain of all charges after accepting his appeal against the five-year sentence handed to him by a sessions court.
The verdict had shocked the nation that had rallied behind the law student's fight for justice after being stabbed 23 times. Civil society activists, journalists, celebrities and political figures took to social media to express disappointment over Hussain's acquittal.
As netizens posted in support of Khadija and expressed outrage over the court verdict, #JusticeForKhadija became the top trend on Twitter in Pakistan.
Shortly after Monday's verdict, Khadija had told Dawn.com that she would appeal the LHC decision in the Supreme Court.
Appearing on DawnNewsTV on Monday night, she expressed shock and disappointment over the acquittal, saying it was "beyond [her] imagination" that someone could get off scot-free after stabbing her 23 times.
Case history
A judicial magistrate had on July 29, 2017, sentenced Hussain to seven-year imprisonment under Section 324 (attempted murder) of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), two years under Section 337A(i) (causing injuries), five years under Section 337A(ii), one year under Section 337F(i), three years under Section 337F(ii) and five years under Section 337F(iv).
However, a district and sessions court in March this year had commuted the rigorous imprisonment awarded by the trial court to Hussain by two years and set aside other minor penalties.
The trial court in its decision had noted that despite detailed cross-examination of witnesses, nothing came out in favour of the convict.
It further observed that the convict had stabbed the victim mercilessly as severe injuries on her vital body parts clearly established that the convict stabbed her to kill her.
It ruled that ocular account was fully corroborated by the medical evidence and motive had been proved and even confessed to by the convict.
Comments (66) Closed
Yes! Please also sentence the malevolent individuals to an exemplary punishment.
Finally!
Great news.
Khadija is a nation's baiti (daughter) too; not just that 'famed' politician who claims to be so. This strange judgement was crying out loud to come to this notice.
Time for true justice. The accused should receive double the original sentence - if evidence of found of bribery or favor by the Appeals Court judge in the case.
I'm almost certain the boy's father influenced the court through his legal connections and friendship with the judge played a part in the revesal of charges.
Great news, I hope this guy pays for what he did.
thank you SC CJ
How LHC can acquitt the culprit so easily? Beyound our imagination.
It seems we are bound to be under developed as always by such decisions. Feel sad
Thank you CJP for the notice....A test case for the supreme court...
Thank you so much, Sir.
Is there any standard of justice in Pakistan? Everything work by suo moto!
Why every case is diverted to CJ, is he the most dutiful person left in Pakistan? What are others doing?
Respect for CJ of Pakistan. May justice be served for the lady.
Even 5 or 7 years prison doesn't look proper. he must be out of our streets for at least 20years.
Thankyou CJ sb. . Hope justice will prevail
Excellent, correct and timely note taken by the wonderful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Islamic Republic of Pakistan pertaining to exoneration of the convict in the sad, brutal, senseless and shameless stabbing case of the helpless, weak, feeble and hapless girl; Kadija Siddigui, by the Lahore High Court. Well done and keep it up.
we will be watching the courts. they are not unaccountable.
Why do these people go scot free? What is wrong with the Justice system. It's an injustice system!
Very brave decision,
Thank you CJP. In Peshawar all blockades removed following your order.
A million salute to you sir, you are a ray of hope for the helpless masses. May the Almighty strengthen you heart and hands.
Salute you sir. You are the saviour in these tough times. We are proud of your every step. Yes, this nation will be known where rule of law prevails.
Thanks to CJ and everyone else to bring this case up . World will be watching for the result of real Justice.
Very timely. Thanks CJ for taking care of deprived and crushed people.
Come out people, it's time for change and a peaceful protest outside LHC otherwise injustices will carry on!
@Orakzi Not true, there are still a few blockades in Sadar area, making peoples lives a misery!
Thanks to CJP. But mere reinstatement of the awarded punishment will not be ebough. LHC judge should also be asked to explain why and on what grounds the conviction was overturn. What specific evidence produced before the LHC which could not be brought in the court of civil judge and then session judge. Had the victim not survived, victim would have given the benefit of the doubt (which is commonly used in our judicial system especially when the accused can purchase the justice). The victim knew him and that evidence is not refutable.
We don’t need suomotos which are triggered by high level of media uproars. Please give us the judicial system which provide justice without the help of any external pressure.
Thanks CJP Sahib Nisar please give this barbaric men maximum punishment so no one dare to do these kind of crime with our daughters in future.
Well Done Mr. Chief Justice!!!!
Two noticed Mr C JP!
@Abdulla Hussain don't really need to oversell this, it's basically his job that be is doing.
highly appreciated move by chief justice..
Great decision...Law should be equal to everyone.
CJ, SIR, Investigation may please be done to find out the Circumstances under which the Judge took this decision and may be should be removed as now he has becopme a danger to Society.
Great news
Best decision of the year
Great,but do we require social media uproar for justice.Can you imagine how many people are subject to injustices and how many time CJ have to intervene.
Thank you CJP.
Thank you CJP. We are proud of you.
@Aamir You are right. When institutions fail and people don't do their jobs, the country runs on Suo Moto. That is Pakistan's fate.
@Aamir I agree. Even though CJP has taken suo moto notice which must be appreciated but it also means system is not working. Menace of nepotism is pretty much in every part of society.
That's good news ,credit goes to media especially Dawn group !
This is CJP job not visiting hospitals and water distribution plants.He needs to look inward and see why we have the most corrupt lower judiciary in the world.
What kind of justice is this that the lower courts give decision in East direction and the supreme court in the West direction consistently. On any case there cant be so much variation in the decisions.
Even the very first commutation to 5 years was totally unjust and uncalled for. Good decision by the CJP to take it suomoto. It demands thorough investigation of the case and of the two judges who commuted the sentence -one at the lower court one at LHC.
Are judges also accountable to anyone. Suo moto would probably mean that the convict will get punishment he deserves but what about the LHC judge who acquitted him. Will he get away with it?
Taking notice is good ...doing something POSITIVE QUICKLY is even better.
Along with Shah Hussain, his bigwig hot shot lawyer father who can't teach his son right from wrong and the rest of the lawyer gang and especially the district and sessions judge should be punished to show to the public that strong arm tactics and legal manipulation will not be tolerated. The CJP seems to the last standing hope.
Please punish the high court judge too if deliberate wrongdoing found on his part.. that would be true justice..
It will be justice if and only if the criminal is returned to prison for the full original jail term. The reason for the LHC decision to set him free has to be exposed. Anyone showing favoritism towards the powerful, within the lawyers, judges and police community should be exposed as well.
is he CJ going to ask the LHC judge to appear before him to explain the reasoning versus summoning the case record, as he been doing with other departments?
Why does everything has to go to SC? Why can the system not be reformed where these types of obviously egregious things don't happen?
Why is it that only CJ is making sense while the others are just passing time. This animal who stabbed the young girl should have been sent to prison for life. Instead he was going to walk free. Now he should be put on ECL otherwise he will fly the coop
CJP should also question the judge who gave a decision on Lahore high court
Mr justice taking notice and solving problems are two different things lately you have taken notice of 100 and solved 1
Hopefully taking notice also results in taking action, as there have been many similar stories where action is taken at the front end to appease the public but then are long-forgotten and buried in the nation's conscience with no justice served.
I hope the guy who attacked this girl sent back to jail and rot there.
Thank you CJP
What is the reason behind pardon, bring this to public.... Or media is bounded not to say anything about Justice.
Will any action be taken against judge who give this verdict?
CJP should also summon LHC Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem, judiciary should correct itself.
I suggest a maximum sentence for the convict to make precedent for people who do these kinds of acts.
By doing these kinds of acts, where are we going? What perception are we creating in the minds? What is the end?
Any answers of these questions?
Bravo!
Hopefully this will set a strong precedent for anyone who dares hurt others. CJP is the last hope.
This is what I am talking about. Now real justice will take place, inshallah.
Finally !!!!!
Shame on the judge who let this criminal go free