Top Court directs Centre to submit response on APS attack

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the federal government to submit its reply on the report into Army Public School (APS) massacre that killed 144 children in 2014.  

A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard the proceedings on the suo motu case. During the hearing, CJP Gulzar expressed sympathy with the parents and said, “We will not leave those who are responsible for the APS tragedy.”

Parents of the martyred school children appeared before the apex court and asked the bench to provide them with justice. The parents requested the inquiry report of the attack be made public. Justice Ahmed regretted the delay and assured the parents that justice will be served.

The two-member bench directed that the APS report should be submitted to the attorney general and asked him to take instructions from the government regarding the next step. 

The six-volume report of the judicial inquiry commission was presented in the top court during today’s hearing. The parents requested the court to provide a copy of the report to them, to which Justice Ahsan replied that it was a “secret report which could not be given to them yet”.

The CJP further said, “We have not read the report ourselves. We will read it after the government’s response. We will take action according to the law and the Constitution.”

“What happened to you was wrong. This should have not happened at any cost,” CJP remarked. In this regard, the parents told the court that they cannot live in Pakistan as their kids are not safe in the country. CJP Gulzar said, “Do not say such things. The court will give its decision on the facts included in this report.”

The attorney general has been summoned in person at the next hearing. The bench announced that the proceedings will be taken forward only after a response from the attorney general is received. The case was adjourned for four weeks.

Pakistan hanged four men in December 2015 for their involvement in the attack on the army-run school. They were convicted by a military court and their death sentences were confirmed by the then army chief.