CJ takes notice of thrashing media-men, lawyers
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has taken Suo Motu notice of the incident of use of force and thrashing of lawyers and media persons by the police and law enforcing agencies in front of the Supreme Court and Election Commission of Pakistan.
Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has directed to place the matter before the court today (Monday). He also issued notices to Secretary Interior, Government of Pakistan, Chief Commissioner, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioner, Duty Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, Islamabad to appear and explain their positions.
The Chief Commissioner and Inspector General of Police, Islamabad have been asked to produce security plan as well as any order, if received by them from the Interior Division to control the law and order situation on 29th September.
They are directed to also submit daily situation report, submitted to high-ups as well as the copies of the FIRs, if registered, along with details of the accused persons with précis of the evidence, if collected, against them. The representatives of the private TV Channels including GEO, ARY and AAJ to produce films/CDs, if prepared, of the incident which has been reported herein above.
Information Ministry has been instructed to issue notice, through electronic media at the cost of the ministry of Information to lawyer’s community, media persons and the members of civil society to appear and furnish evidence, if they have any, through affidavits, in this behalf.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has also asked Medical Superintendent of the Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad and Executive Director, PIMS to furnish the list of the patients including lawyers, media persons, members of the civil society as well as the members of police/law enforcing agencies, to whom treatment has been provided in the Hospital.
Advocate General Punjab will appear and assist the Court. The Suo Motu has been taken on a note of Registrar of Supreme Court. The registrar noted that lawyers had gathered on the Constitution Avenue as well as inside the premises of the Supreme Court building, with intent to lodge a protest before Election Commission of Pakistan. Serious clashes took place with police contingent/law enforcing agencies, present outside the Public Gate of the Supreme Court building, registrar said.
The police chased them into the Supreme Court building. The SSP (Islamabad) on duty was asked to withdraw his force from close proximity of the Court building. They moved back and took position near the Federal Shariat Court building, in front of the Supreme Court building. The Registrar noted that it has been widely reported in the press that media persons were also beaten up by the police/law enforcing agencies in front of the office of Election Commission of Pakistan.
There are also reports that Minister of State for Information Tariq Azeem was also manhandled in front of the office of Election Commission of Pakistan. Similarly, Dr. Farooq Sattar MNA met with the same treatment in front of Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad.