ISLAMABAD, Sept 2 The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that in accordance with its directives the investigation into the lynching of two brothers in Sialkot had been transferred to a joint investigation team which had conducted the initial inquiry.

The initial inquiry which followed a furore over the brutal killing of the brothers by a mob was headed by DIG Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhaira.

A report by the team submitted to the court said that 17 civilians and 10 police personnel, including the former Sialkot DPO, had been arrested and four policemen were absconding.

Punjab AG Khwaja Haris conceded before a bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday that Sialkot police had failed to nab the personnel who had escaped from custody.

SHO Rana Ilyas, ASI Waris Ali and constables Mubarik Ali and Tariq Mehmood are absconding.

The chief justice expressed dissatisfaction over the police performance, saying the incident had taken place on Aug 15 but they had failed to arrest the fugitives. The court ordered DPO Bilal Siddiq Kimyana to arrest the policemen by Sept 6.

The DPO said police had arrested the SHO but he escaped and a case had been registered against the personnel involved. “I have also requested the Punjab police chief to provide officers from outside Sialkot because sensitive information is being leaked to those who have fled.”

The court asked police to probe the murder of one Bilal which, according to the general perception, had triggered the lynching. — Staff Reporter