LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought replies from the federal government and several ministries on a petition questioning indifferent approach of the authorities towards `unfair trial` and execution of its citizens in Gulf States, especially Saudi Arabia.
Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), a non-profit law firm, filed the petition on behalf of the families of Pakistani migrant workers facing executions in the Middle East.
The petition also included fami-lies of Pakistanis whose loved ones were recently beheaded in Saudi Arabia.
During the first hearing of the petition before Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, JPP`s counsel Barrister Sara Belal argued that the constitutional duties of the state to uphold the fundamental rights and protect lives of its citizens were not limited to the geographic boundaries of the country.
She said the government was bound by the Constitution to provide legal and consular aid to these Pakistanis who had been jailed in the Middle East.
The counsel pointed out that inpast few weeks alone, Saudi Arabia had beheaded nine Pakistanis `wrongfully` convicted by Saudi courts, with many more Pakistanis in danger of being executed any day now.
She sought direction for the government to take up the matter of its imprisoned citizens with the respective countries of the Middle East.
After hearing initial arguments,JusticeShahissuednotices to the ministries of foreign affairs and interior and the Overseas Pakistan Foundation to present ofñcials in court and respond to issues raised by the petition. The court would resume hearing onDec 9.
DIRECTIVE: An additional district and sessions judge on Friday ordered the investigation in-charge of Islampura police station to submit the record of a rape case of a minor girl on Dec 17.
The judge extended an interim bail of suspect Attiqur Rehman, headmaster of a private school in Islampura, in the rape case. The police had registered a rape case against the headmaster on victim`s father application.
The counsel for the suspect argued that the allegation of rape was not proved in the medical examination of the alleged victim.
