Zainab murder case: SC summons representatives of press bodies tomorrow

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday issued notices to representatives of several press bodies and journalists to appear before the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry tomorrow (Sunday). 

The court will resume the suo motu hearing of Zainab murder case tomorrow. The summons to media representatives were issued at the heels of false claims made by TV anchorperson Shahid Masood about the suspect recently arrested in Zainab murder case.

The chief justice was hearing the case of Naqeebullah Mehsud’s extrajudicial killing at Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry when he issued summons to members of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), senior journalists, analysts and TV anchorpersons in Lahore hearing.

“The provision of justice to the masses is not the sole responsibility of judiciary rather the press shares an equal onus,” he remarked.

Referring to baseless ‘revelations’ made by Dr Shahid Masood, the CJP said the top court took notice of rape and murder victim and the responsibility is on the press to ensure transmission of authentic information.

The court then issued summons to Kashif Abbasi, Hamid Mir, Hameed Haroon, Fahad Hussain, I.A Rehman, Kamran Khan, Zia Shahid, Sarmad Ali, Aamir Mehmood and Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman for hearing tomorrow at Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry.

Masood’s allegations

Earlier on Wednesday night, anchorperson Shahid Masood claimed that an international ring of child sexual abuse was behind accused Imran, who he said, held as many as 37 bank accounts.

Mr Masood has been under fire since he made claims that an entire gang was behind the man arrested in connection with the rape and murder of seven-year old Zainab in Kasur.

During his TV show on January 24, Shahid Masood had claimed that the accused in Zainab murder, rape case did not act alone as he was part of an international violent child pornography ring.

He then maintained that he had evidences that Imran Arshad has at least 37 foreign currency accounts under his name and his group’s activities are backed by a senior political figure.

However, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday (yesterday) said it had found no bank account of key suspect Imran.