SC directs IG to produce heirs, witnesses before it

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday summoned prosecution witnesses (PWs) and legal heirs of Zain Rauf who was allegedly killed by Mustafa Kanju, son of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Siddique Khan Kanju.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, heard a suo moto case of the murder of Zain Rauf, who was allegedly killed in Lahore by Mustafa Kanju.
The court directed the Inspector General of Punjab to ensure foolproof security to the bereaved family members of Zain Rauf and prosecution witnesses while producing before it on November 16.
On April 1, Mustafa Kanju had allegedly opened fire on a vehicle near Lahore’s Cavalry Ground area, killing Zain Rauf, a student of 11th class and leaving a passerby injured after a fiery argument.
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on October 28 acquitted five accused, including Mustafa Kanju, and his guards namely Ikramullah, Asif, Saifullah and Sadiq, after eight prosecution witnesses, including Sohail Afzal, complainant of the FIR, denied recognising the accused.
Owing to the non-availability of substantial evidence, the court acquitted all the accused.Taking notice of the case, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali directed for producing record of the case and later on a three-member bench was constituted for hearing the Zain murder case.
On Tuesday, the apex court bench, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, resumed hearing in the case. Additional Advocate General Punjab Razzaq A Mirza submitted before the court that the provincial government would file a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against suspects’ acquittal.
The Punjab prosecutor told the apex court that witnesses had changed their statements by grabbing money from criminals. He said eyewitnesses were forced to put thumb impression on a blank page.
To a question, the prosecutor contended that the trial To a question, the prosecutor contended that the trial court has not properly analysed the investigation officer’s report. IG Punjab Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera along with police officials, while appearing before the court, submitted that as the witnesses retracted from their statements, while the claimant was not more interested to proceed with the case, therefore, the accused were acquitted.
The Punjab prosecutor, however, told the court that the eyewitnesses were forced to put thumb impression on the blank page.The Punjab additional advocate general assured the court that soon an appeal would be filed in the high court against the acquittal of the accused in the instant case.
Meanwhile, the court summoned legal heirs of the deceased Zain Rauf and prosecution witnesses on the next date of hearing and directed the IG Punjab to produce them in foolproof security and adjourned the hearing till November 16.