LHC chief justice suggests probe by judicial magistrate into Sahiwal killings.

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan on Thursday suggested the family of Sahiwal incident's victims to have an order issued for an inquiry through a judicial magistrate instead of the constitution of a judicial commission to probe into the killings.

A two-judge bench, headed by the chief justice, heard multiple petitions by family members of victims and some lawyers who challenged the establishment of a joint investigation team (JIT) and sought the formation of a judicial commission.

Suggesting a judicial inquiry to the petitioners, Chief Justice Khan said an inquiry by a judicial magistrate could be used in trial whereas a report by a judicial commission would have no such significance. At this, counsel of the victims' family sought time to consider the option and the bench adjourned hearing till Feb 14.

Meanwhile, the bench directed JIT head Additional IG Syed Ijaz Hussain Shah to record statements of the witnesses presented by complainant Muhammad Jalil, brother of Muhammad Khalil who was gunned down in the Sahiwal 'encounter' along with his wife and a teenage daughter on Jan 19 by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

About the judicial commission, Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan said the prime minister had already sought a report from the Punjab government on investigation into the incident within 48 hours. He sought one week for the constitution of judicial commission be finalised by the federal government.

The bench allowed the time and also directed the JIT head to appear in person on the...