SP directed to record statement in lynching case

LAHORE
THE Lahore High Court Tuesday directed Superintendent of Police (SP) Kasur jail to record statements of six accused of burning alive a Christian couple on the allegations of blasphemy.
The court summoned the SP on short notice after investigation officer expressed his inability to record the statements of the accused for which the court had directed him on previous hearing. On previous hearing, the IO had informed the court that police had not recorded the statements of the accused persons.
Counsel for the accused submitted that the police did not record statements of the accused which showed the accused were arrested and implicated in the case only due to political pressure. He said they were not present on the spot on the day of the incident.
The court asked the investigation officer about recording their statements but he said that he had not recorded the same. At this, the court asked him to go to the jail and record their statements by next date of hearing.
Nominated accused namely Harish Bashir, Waqas Bashir, Arsalan Latif, Usman Latif, Muhammad Hanif and another had filed the bail petitions after cancellation of their application from the anti-terrorism court.
Counsel on behalf of minor children of the couple - Shama and Shehzad - Advocate Riaz Anjum submitted before the court that the police nominated in the FIR those who were involved in burning Shama and Shehzad. He said the accused were trying to get rid of the case by proving themselves innocent.
It is pertinent to mention here that total 59 nominated accused were arrested in the case. Eleven people had filed bails before the trial court but they were dismissed. Another 12 accused have filed bail applications before the trial court which are pending.