SC seeks progress report in APS Peshawar case within 4 weeks

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday assured the Supreme Court of action in accordance with its orders in the APS Peshawar massacre, ARY News reported.

“There is no sacred cow in the country and I believe in the supremacy of the law,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said before SC after being summoned in the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar massacre case.

PTI was ruling in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the APS carnage took place, he informed the SC and added he rushed to Peshawar after the carnage.

The Supreme Court judges asked PM Imran Khan to stick to the matters related to the APS massacre when he informed that court about opposing to join the war against terror.

“You are our prime minister and respected for you,” the CJP bench said.

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CJP asked PM Imran Khan that what steps were taken by the state to provide justice to the parents of the martyred children?

The prime minister replied he was not in the government at that time. “Now you are in power, what steps have been taken to bring the culprits into the court of law,” the CJP asked.

PM Imran Khan further said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif should have tendered resignation after the carnage.

Justice Qazi Amin remarked that media reports are showing that the incumbent government is holding talks with the banned outfit TTP.

CJP Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that the court has nothing to do with the policy matters, why the culprits have not been identified despite the passage of several years.

Later, the hearing was adjourned for four weeks. The SC whole ordering the federal government implement SC orders in the case directed the government to submit the progress report into the APS carnage with the sign of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan reached the Supreme Court amid strict measures.

SC summons PM Imran

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed asked the attorney general of Pakistan has Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan read the judgment in the APS tragedy case?

The AGP replied the judgment was not sent to the PM Office and added that he will inform the premier about the court orders.

CJP Gulzar asked AGP that has any case registered against higher officials in the light of the inquiry report in the APS massacre.?

Read more: SC orders sending APS attack inquiry report to Attorney General

“No finding against the higher officials reported in the inquiry,” the AGP replied.

The CJP remarked this shows the serious Mr. AGP, “matters cannot go like this way,” the CJP said and summoned PM Imran Khan in the case in person.

During the hearing, Justice Ejazul Ahsan remarked that schoolchildren were a soft target for terrorists and it is not possible that such a massacre can be carried out without inner support.

On Dec 16, 2014, six terrorists had stormed the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar and martyred around 150 students and teachers. After this tragic incident, the government chalked out the National Action Plan (NAP) to eliminate terrorism from the country.