The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that what would be the barometer to determine the fact about militants or innocents presence in the Lal Masjid during the operation of 2007. A two-member bench headed by Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan resumed the hearing of a plea of Tariq Asad, counsel for Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, seeking implementation of the apex court order of October 2, 2007 in the matter.
Seeking implementation report from the federal government in the matter, a member of the bench Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said while addressing Asad, "You are claiming that innocent persons were killed in Lal Masjid operation than question arises who gunned down 11 army personnel during the operation - did they died automatically". To which Tariq Asad submitted that there was indiscriminate firing from three sides saying trial court has acquitted Maulana Abdul Aziz and others, nominated in the case.