Benazir case: SC rejects plea to register second FIR
18 October, 2012
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has rejected a plea seeking to register a fresh first information report (FIR) in the Benazir Bhutto murder case against former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, former law minister Babar Awan, former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and others. A six-member special bench, headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani heard the petition, which was filed by Advocate Chaudhry Aslam, former chief protocol officer of Benazir Bhutto, seeking registration of another FIR in the assassination case. He prayed that the first FIR submitted in the case did not mention the names of "real culprits". Objecting to the status of the petitioner, the court observed that such a petition could only be filed by the heirs of the deceased. During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Shafi Muhammad Chandio appearing before the bench contended that the applicant had no locus standi in the matter. He said that Chaudhry Aslam had no blood relation with Benazir Bhutto and had approached for the registration of the second FIR 19 months after her assassination. The DAG told the court neither the heirs of Benazir Bhutto nor the Pakistan People's Party were interested in the registration of fresh FIR. Chandio said that the applicant may record his statement in the trial court, as the matter was sub judice. Accepting his arguments the court asked the applicant why he remained silent for 19 months. The applicant could not give a satisfactory response to the bench and decided to withdraw his petition. Earlier, the apex court had directed 12 respondents to submit comments on a plea seeking to register a fresh first information report (FIR) in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, within two weeks. All the respondents had opposed the registration of second FIR. End.
|
