Dawn 'leak': LHC seeks reply from government on constitution of inquiry committee

The Lahore High Court on Friday sought a reply from the federal government by December 14 in response to a petition challenging the constitution of an inquiry committee headed by retired justice Aamir Raza A Khan to probe into the matter of leakage of a news item. Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah also directed the law officer to apprise the court whether or not the constitution of a new commission was being considered by the government.
Former law minister, Babar Awan, representing the petitioner contended that all the members of inquiry committee belonged to Punjab province and had close relationship with the Sharif family. He said the government formed the committee with a mala fide intention. Awan stated that the government could ignore the recommendations of the inquiry committee like it did with the Model Town incident inquiry.
He pleaded that a judicial commission should be formed with representation of all the provinces. A law officer opposing the petition argued that the inquiry committee was constituted in accordance with law which empowers the government to form such a committee or a commission. PPP affiliated lawyer, Ilyas Khan, had filed the petition seeking an open inquiry against functionaries involved in leaking information of an in-camera meeting of the National Security Committee. He said the in-camera proceedings of the committee were leaked under a conspiracy to scandalise the Pakistan army. The petitioner therefore asked the court to direct the interior minister to put the names of all those involved in the national security breach on the Exit Control List (ECL).