LAHORE: An additional advocate general told the Lahore High Court on Monday that the Punjab caretaker government had no plans to form a judicial commission on the Jaranwala incident in which churches and homes of Christian community were torched and ransacked.

Ghulam Sarwar Nahang, the law officer, stated that the government had constituted various joint investigation teams (JITs) to hold an inquiry into the incident. He said the government in the light of reports submitted by the JITs decided not to form a judicial commission.

The law officer also filed a reply on behalf of the chief secretary to a petition seeking a judicial inquiry into the Jaranwala incident.

Justice Asim Hafeez was hearing the petition filed by Bishop Azad Marshall Church of Pakistan. The petitioner’s counsel sought time to amend the petition and the judge adjourned the hearing till Oct 11.

The petitioner had contended that the investigation into the Jaranwala incident by the police was being held in an irresponsible manner. He said the police had been carrying out investigation at a snail’s pace, that was benefiting the perpetrators of violence.

He asked the court to order the provincial government to hold a judicial inquiry under the supervision of a sitting judge of the high court so that justice could be delivered to the victims.

On Saturday, caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi had presided over a meeting of the cabinet where the chief secretary submitted the police inquiry report into the Jaranwala incident.

The cabinet, being satisfied with the police inquiry report, withdrew its decision to form a judicial commission.

REMAND: A local drug court extended physical remand of two suspects for four days in a case involving the supply of substandard injections that affected the vision of dozens of patients in Punjab.

The police presented Asim Khan and Bilal Khalid before the court on expiry of their five-day remand.

The IO asked the court to extend the physical remand of the suspects for seven days. However, the court allowed the remand for further four days.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2023