ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered police and provincial officials to explain why they failed to prevent a riot in a Christian area of Lahore in which more than 100 homes were torched.

A three member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed the hearing over the court's notice taken over the arson attack in a Christian neighbourhood in Lahore.

During the hearing Punjab's Advocate General Ashrat Ausaf Ali, submitted reports over the Joseph Colony and Gojra incidents and informed the court that recommendations were sent to relevant authorities after the Gojra incident.

The apex court rejected the report and sought a comprehensive written reply from the Punjab government over the Badami Bagh incident.

The bench said in its remarks that Punjab police had a tainted history referring to the Shantinagar episode of 1997 and added that contradictions existed in the report submitted by it.

Three days went by between the blasphemy claims, which often provoke a violent public response in Pakistan, and the carnage in Joseph Colony.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the violence could have been avoided.

“We would like to have a clear stance of (Punjab) provincial government on failure to provide protection to people,” Chaudhry said during a Supreme Court hearing.

He rejected a report submitted by the provincial government, saying: “nothing has been produced to establish causes of the incident in Joseph Colony... we need a specific reply”.

“Similarly, no specific reply has been submitted in the report about conduct of police officers including the inspector general of Punjab police, city police chief and the local in-charge of police in the area,” Chaudhry said.

The court said in its short order that it has to be informed about the reasons behind the incident and about the action taken against those held responsible for the attacks.

The hearing of the case was adjourned until Mar 18.