SC to hear Jaranwala incident on August 22

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has fixed hearing an appeal related to the Jaranwala incident for tomorrow.

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

The hearing will take place tomorrow, August 22, before a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial.

The bench includes Justices Athar Minnullah and Shahid Waheed. In this context, the Supreme Court sent notices to the parties in question.

This development follows a petition that was filed in the Supreme Court calling for action in response to the Jaranwala tragedy, which saw the looting of 20 churches and numerous residences belonging to the Christian community.

The Voice of Christians International (VCI) filed the one-page application in accordance with Order 33 Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules 1980.

The top court was urged by VCI Director for Human Rights Samuel to act against those responsible for the regrettable incident.

"The churches, Holy Bibles, and residences of the Christian community were burnt on August 16 in the gruesome incident," the application claimed.

He further stated that the Supreme Court was now hearing a case on the application of a 2014 ruling on minorities' rights.

According to a 2014 Supreme Court decision, law enforcement agencies must file criminal charges when minorities' places of worship are desecrated or when any of their legal rights are violated.

As per SC ruling, the federal government was also urged to make sure that hate speech was prevented on social media.

The 32-page verdict also stipulated that a national council for minority rights must be established.

The judgment was rendered in response to a suo motu notice about the Peshawar church bombing assault, which claimed 81 lives in September 2013.