SC summons media heads, anchors in Zainab case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday issued notices to the media persons to appear in-person in Zainab murder case being taken up today (Sunday) at 10:00am at Supreme Court Lahore Registry.

The court issued notices to Hameed Haroon, Mian Amir Mahmood (PBA), Zia Shahid (CPNE), Ms Rameeza Majid Nizami, Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Fahad Hussain, I A Rehamn, Mujeebur Rehman Shami, Kamran Khan, Kashif Abbasi, Hamid Mir and Sarmad Ali (APNS).

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar will take up the matter of Zainab who was raped and later murdered in Kasur.

Earlier, a three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on January 25 heard the case with particular reference to some startling revelations made by TV anchor Dr Shahid Masood in his TV show.

The chief justice while taking notice of the TV show had summoned Dr Shahid Masood and he had told the court that Imran Ali, the accused in Zainab murder case was a member of pornography gang and had 37 foreign currency bank accounts, and the backing of the country's most important personality and a minister.

During the hearing, video clip of Dr Shahid talk show was played in the courtroom, wherein the anchor claimed that Imran Ali, the accused in the Zainab murder case who is in custody is not mentally retarded and a fool and having 37 foreign accounts besides having the backing of some influential figures.

He had also provided the court two names of the influential persons allegedly involved in the matter and the court had observed that it would be kept secret until the completion of the investigation

The court directed that Joint Investigation Team should inquire into the matter within two days and submit the report by Monday January 29.

On Friday, the apex court however, issued a revised list, stating that instead of January 29, the instant matter would now be heard on Sunday, January 28 at Lahore Registry.

The court had directed Dr Shahid Masood, anchor, Asma Hamid, Additional Advocate General, Punjab, Inspector General of Police, Punjab, Inspector General Prisons, Punjab, Abu Bakar Khuda Bakhsh, DIG Investigation, Punjab, Dr Naeem, child specialist, Dr Muhammad Ashraf Tahir, Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) DG, to appear before it.