SC orders APS Peshawar inquiry report to be made public

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday directed that the report into the Army Public School Peshawar attack be made public.

The apex court directed the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan to make public the judicial commission on the APS attack case

The suo motu case of the APS attack was heard by a two-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan after an inquiry commission submitted its report to the court.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed ordered Supreme Court Bar Association President Amanullah Kanrani to provide legal assistance to the parents of the martyrs. The attorney-general has been ordered to present the government’s strategy at the next hearing.

The attorney general informed the top court that culprits involved in the terrorist attack had been awarded sentences after being arrested, He added that it was a matter of fact that he could not make eye contact with the affected parents.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked, “How can we know about what happened there?” He asked the affected parents to apprise the court for what they were seeking from the government.

He directed authorities to provide copies of the government’s response in the case and inquiry commission’s report to the parents.

The chief justice asked the attorney general to take steps for ending the tradition of putting the responsibility for any incident on low-grade officials. He added that the authorities will have to start imposing punishment from higher-ranked officers.

CJP Gulzar Ahmed said that the government must ensure to stop such incidents from happening and what was the reason for the major security lapse.

Later, the top court adjourned that hearing of the case for one month. The chief justice also accepted the invitation to attend a memorial ceremony in Peshawar on December 16.

On December 16, 2014, six terrorists had stormed the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar and martyred around 150 students and teachers.  The attack was claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).