SCP to hear Jaranwala incident on August 22

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has fixed hearing an appeal related to the Jaranwala incident for tomorrow (Tuesday), reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial has constituted a bench for the hearing.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial will hold the hearing tomorrow (August 22).

Justice Athar Minnullah and Justice Shahid Waheed are part of the bench. The Supreme Court issued notices to the concerned parties in this regard.

This development comes after a petition moved in the Supreme Court demanding action over the Jaranwala tragedy in which 20 churches and dozens of homes belonging to the Christian community were ransacked.

The single-page application was moved by the Voice of Christians International (VCI) under Order 33 Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules 1980.

VCI Director for Human Rights Samuel urged the top court to act against the culprits involved in the unfortunate incident.

“The churches, Holy Bibles, and residences of the Christian community were burnt on Aug 16 in the gruesome incident,” said the applicant.

He added that a case related to the implementation of a 2014 judgment regarding minorities’ rights was also pending with the apex court.

The Supreme Court gave a ruling in 2014 that law enforcement agencies would register criminal cases for desecrating the places of worship of minorities or violating of any of their rights guaranteed under the law.

 The federal government was also asked to ensure that hate speech was discouraged on social media, according to the SC verdict.

It was also directed in the 32-page judgment that a national council for minority rights must be formed.

 The verdict had come on suo motu notice taken in September 2013 over the Peshawar church bomb attack which claimed 81 lives.