SC summons IG Punjab in Kot Radha Kishan case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the report submitted by Punjab Police regarding the gruesome killing of a Christian couple in Kot Radha Kishan in Kasur District and summoned IG Punjab, the then district police officer (DPO) Kasur and ASI in person on January 29.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mushir Alam resumed hearing into suo motu case regarding the Kot Radha Kishan tragedy wherein the Christian couple was allegedly beaten to death by a mob and their bodies were burnt in a brick kiln in District Kasur on allegations of blasphemy.
The court summoned IG Punjab in person on the next hearing along with a report stating as to what action had been taken so far against the police officers who showed negligence at the time of brutal killing of the couple. The court also summoned the then DPO Kasur Jawad Qamar and ASI Abdur Rashid on the hearing.
The court expressed dissatisfaction over the report submitted by the DPO and observed that police had failed to render its professional obligation at the time of the incident.Justice Gulzar Ahmed, a member of the bench, observed that so many incidents of violence happened but the police had done nothing to protect lives of the people.
“The high police officials are sleeping in their houses and don’t bother to give protection to the people,” he remarked.He further said that the case would be lingered on by the concerned authorities, adding that it might take two to three years while the witnesses in the matter would be difficult to find due to incompetence of the police and prosecution.
During the hearing, DPO Kasur Roy Babar Saeed appeared before the court and submitted that the police were scattered on day of the incident due to 10th of Muharram.Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk asked the DPO as to what preventive measures were taken before occurrence of the tragic incident as they were told that the police was informed about
happening of the incident. DPO Roy Babar Saeed however replied that the police officer was deputed at the concerned Police Choki adding that there was a mob of about 500 people who attacked the police and torn apart their uniforms.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked, “It is strange that with guns in hands, how the police got beaten.”Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk observed that presence of a police officer at the time of incident was meaningless as the couple could not be saved.
“The police should have resorted to aerial firing,” the chief justice said.The court was informed that two Maulvis, who incited the angry mob, had been arrested while the third one was still at large. The court was further informed that compensation amount had been paid to heirs of the victims.
DPO Roy Babar Saeed told the court that the then DPO Kasur, Jawad Qamar had now been posted to Counter Terrorism Department.Meanwhile, the court after expressing dissatisfaction over the report submitted by DPO Kasur, summoned IGP Punjab, the then DOP Kasur Jawad Qamar and ASI Abdur Rashid in person on the next date of hearing and adjourned the proceeding till January 29.
The court directed IGP Punjab to submit a comprehensive report stating as to what action had been taken so far against the police officials who showed their negligence of duty at the time of tragic incident.