SC summons PM Imran Khan in APS massacre case

Islamabad: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has summoned Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday (today) in the 2014 Army Public School (APS) tragedy case.

As per reports, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed summoned the Premier in his personal capacity to appear before the court at 11:30am. 

The SC took suo motu notice of the horrific carnage in the APS, Peshawar.  

In the wake of the terrible tragedy, military courts were set up for trying terrorists under amendments made to the Constitution and the Army Act. 

During the hearing, Justice Gulzar Ahmed asked the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), if any case has been registered against higher officials in the light of the inquiry report in the APS massacre.

Responding to it, the AGP said that no finding against the higher officials reported in the inquiry so far.

The judgment was not sent to the PM Office, said Attorney General, adding that he will inform the premier about the court orders.

However, the three-member bench expressed anger at the request of lawyer and responded to the attorney general’s plea, saying Imran Khan should present himself before the bench.

The AGP sought time from the court for the prime minister to appear before it. 

The hearing of the case has been adjourned for the time being and will resume by 11:30am. 

In addition, the parents of those who were martyred in the APS massacre were also attending the hearing of the case. 

Following the hearing, Justice Ejazul Ahsan remarked that schoolchildren were easy target for terrorists and it is not possible that such carnage can be carried out without inner support. 

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The military courts gave capital punishment to 310 militants and executed 56 of them. Moreover, the mastermind of APS massacre was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan in 2017.