Model Town case report: Govt can’t deny people’s right to know, court told

LAHORE :Representing heirs of those who were killed in the 2014 Model Town incident, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar told the Lahore High Court full bench Thursday that the government could not deny people their right to know the truth as to who was responsible for the horrific killings.
“And if this is kept secret from the people then not only will this amount to constitutional violation but also the entire purpose for appointing the inquiry tribunal will be negated,” he said.
The three-judge full bench headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh is seized with an intra court appeal moved by the provincial government challenging decision of a single bench to release the withheld report. Advocate Khwaja Harris concluded his arguments last week on behalf of the government.
Barrister Ali Zafar stated that the report was prepared by a judicial tribunal constituted by the government itself under Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act and the report accordingly was a public document as defined in Section 85 of the Qanoon-i-Shahadat Order, 1984. Relying on various judgements, he said, the government being custodian of the report was required to provide certified true copies of any such documents.
He argued that under Article 19-A of the Constitution it was the fundamental right of every citizen to have access to and receive information on all matters of public importance and this right was to be read with the right of “Freedom of Speech”. Quoting from the Supreme Court judgement, he said freedom of information was basically a right of the people to know the truth and was based on the wisdom of Hazrat Isa (PBUH) who said “And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free.”
He argued that it was unfortunate facet of Pakistan’s history that during the past 69 years since Pakistan’s independence that the people of the country have been disserved and information critical to them has been withheld from them and whereas time and again the governments have spent millions of rupees on inquiries, but the citizens although being direct affectees remained clueless and uninformed. As the arguments were in process, the full bench adjourned hearing until November 21.
Meera case: A civil court Thursday adjourned the hearing of a civil petition seeking cancelation of marriage certificate submitted by one Attique-ur-Rehman, a claimant of film actress Meera’s husband by November 20.
Petitioner actress Meera submitted before the court that the marriage certificate submitted by Attique-ur-Rehman is fake and forged. She argued that the record of the union council mentioned on the certificate shows that any such marriage is not registered in that union council. Moreover, the stamps placed on the marriage certificate are fake, she said, contending stamps and signatures of the witnesses are also forged. She implored the court to declare marriage certificate null and void, saying that Attique is trying to malign her repute.