Aitzaz Ahsan, a renowned politician, and lawyer said during an interview that there was no point in Supreme Court (SC) summoning PM Khan in the Army Public School (APS) case.
The news of SC demanding PM Khan to appear before the court in the APS case took Pakistan by storm. Many questioned the court’s decision to directly seek answers from PM Khan as his government was not in ruling during the horrific APS incident.
Read more: APS case: SC orders PM Khan to take action against officials
Moreover, the public also wondered whether the SC could hold accountable every Prime Minister and Army Chief for every incident of terror attack within Pakistan. In this regard, Aitzaz Ahsan was asked to elaborate on the matter, owing to his legal expertise.
Aitzaz Ahsan stated that asking PM Khan to appear before the court was nothing more than an attempt to increase the prestige of the judges.
He also recalled how the SC summoned former Prime Ministers Yusuf Raza Gillani and Nawaz Sharif in the past.
“Having the ability to summon a prime minister adds to the ego,” Aitzaz Ahsan said.
“In my opinion, there was no point in summoning the PM, especially if he is not the accused in the case,” he further added.
Read more: Pakistan’s identity crisis: can it explain itself without India? Aitzaz Ahsan explains
The APS case
On Dec 16, 2014, six Taliban terrorists entered APS and martyred nearly 150 people, including more than 130 schoolchildren. The terror organization Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the deadliest attack in Pakistan’s history.
The carnage prompted the government to declare an all-out war against terrorist outfits. As a result, the government set up military courts for trying the terrorists under amendments made to the Constitution and the Army Act.
Parents of the victims also demanded that the SC register cases against the top civil-military leadership as well. The parents further demanded transparency in the cases.
Read more: Massacre at Army Public School: Questions that continue to haunt?
On this note, the Supreme Court directed the AGP to take the necessary steps and informed the court. However, the AGP failed to do so, claiming that FIRs cannot be registered against the country’s top civil-military leadership.
At this, the court expressed anger and lambasted the AGP. It also stated that the attack happened as a response to Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
While the AGP sought more time to seek directives from PM Khan, the court said it will directly ask him.
Read more: APS attack culprits already sent to hell!