SC orders JIT to probe into journalist revelations

Tariq Ullah Wardak

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday ordered Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the revelations under light of evidences provided by television anchor Shahid Masood against the suspect arrested recently in Zainab murder case.

A three-judge bench of Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, passed the order in suo motu hearing of the Zainab murder case.

The top court had summoned Masood to throw a light on claims he made during a television show on Wednesday night with regard to prime suspect arrested in Zainab rape and murder case.

In his show, Masood had claimed that Zainab’s murderer was member of a network involved in child pornography production. He alleged that influential people and a minister in Punjab have been supporting the network.

At outset of the hearing, Masood and Punjab Additional Advocate General Asma Hamid appeared before the court.

The CJP asked Masood to write down the names of persons including the influential people and minister for backing the network involved in the child pornography production, which he talked about in his show.

Complying with the orders, the TV anchor handed over the names on a piece of paper to Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.

On the occasion, the bench also went through footage of Masood’s TV show at courtroom and passed directives to Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Arif Nawaz Khan and the JIT to probe into allegations under light of evidences provided by the anchorperson.

To which, the Advocate General of Punjab replied that a six-member committee has been formed to investigate the allegations following the show.

Masood reiterated his claims on the occasion and said that suspect in custody for the murder of Zainab and other minors is mentally fit and a member of an international ring.

He said the prime suspect has been receiving foreign remittances in his 37 foreign currency bank accounts for making pornographic videos.

Raising concerns over life threats to the suspect, the anchorperson said the rapist could be killed in police custody as a thorough interrogation could further help in arrest of other culprits.

To which, the CJP remarked that the matter of the suspect’s security is important and asked the Punjab IG to ensure security to the prime suspect in police custody.

The bench then asked Masood whether he has details of bank accounts of the network.

In reply, Masood responded positively and submitted the details of the suspect’s 37 bank accounts.

However, the CJP warned the anchorperson over the implications if the accusations found wrong.

The court then adjourned the hearing till Monday (January 29).

Meanwhile, a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department added two members to the existing JIT investigating the case, in light of new revelations.

The two new members would be a senior officer of the State Bank of Pakistan and a director of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).