LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday allowed the Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) to engage counsel for its representation in judicial inquiry being conducted by a judge of the anti-terrorism court into a doctors-journalists clash.

The court directed the inquiry judge to provide the copies of statements recorded by doctors and police officials to journalists and allow them to cross-examine the statements.

On the request of PUJ’s counsel Aftab Ahmad Bajwa, Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry also directed the inquiry judge, Masood Arshad, to end one-sided proceedings against the journalists.

The judge, however, rejected a plea of PUJ, which demanded transfer of inquiry to any other judge and disposed of a petition filed by its president Rai Hasnain Tahir.

Earlier, petitioner’s counsel argued that the judicial inquiry was ordered by the Punjab law minister who had no authority to issue such order.

He pointed out that the Punjab governor was the authority to appoint a judge for holding a judicial inquiry into the matter.

The counsel said the petitioner along with some other journalists appeared before the inquiry judge but he flatly refused assistance from any counsel.

He said the petitioner had requested the judge to let them bring their counsel so that they could cross-examine the statements of the doctors according to the Section 5 (4) (5) of West Pakistan Tribunals and Inquiries Ordinance 1969. But the judge did not allow his request.

The counsel also gave references of different cases in which the witnesses were cross-examined.

He said the act of the inquiry officer showed that he was being pressurised from political quarters in favour of Dr Akram.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/9/2010