LHC Orders Joint Hearing of Hania Murder Case and CCD Status Petition
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed that a petition seeking a transparent investigation into the killing of nine-year-old Hania Ahmed in Chakwal be heard alongside a case concerning the legal status of the Crime Control Department (CCD). Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry presided over the hearing of the miscellaneous application filed by the Judicial Activism Panel through Advocate Azhar Siddique.
The petitioner argued that CCD officials had opened fire, resulting in the death of the girl and injuries to her father and younger brother. The counsel maintained that the incident constituted a grave violation of fundamental rights and asserted that law enforcement agencies could not be given a "licence to kill". He urged the court to order preservation of CCTV footage, wireless communication logs and weapons record, register a murder case against those responsible and ensure a transparent investigation under judicial supervision.
The court, after hearing arguments, decided to club the petition with the pending case regarding the legal status of the CCD. This move aims to ensure a comprehensive examination of the issues surrounding the incident and the broader functioning of the CCD. The next hearing date will be fixed by the court registry.
