PM Imran Khan assures SC of action against those responsible for APS tragedy

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured the Supreme Court of action against those responsible for the Army Public School tragedy on Wednesday.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared and briefed the SC court about the case. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the case.

Hearing the suo motu notice, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed ordered action after listening to the stance of the martyred children. He also ordered to present a signed progress report and implementation of the October 20 order within four weeks. He remarked that they cannot leave schoolchildren to die. "Action was taken against watchmen and soldiers. The real action should have been taken from the top," he observed.

Justice Ejazul Hassan remarked that questioned whether the APS tragedy was failure of security.

Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan said that the government admits all mistakes. "I will leave my office, but will not defend anyone. The FIR cannot be registered against the high-ups," he contended. However, the court rejected the proposal to form a high-level investigation commission.

Briefing the judges about the case, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that there was no sacred cow in the country. "I believe in the rule of law. We will take action if the court orders us."

He said that he had visited Peshawar after the Army Public School tragedy. "We took all possible steps and formed the National Action Plan as the PTI had the government at that time. We won the war against terrorism. I have already met the parents of the martyred children and will also meet them in future," he maintained.

The court remarked that the parents of martyred children want action against those responsible for the tragedy.

In his statement on the rostrum, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the government is grieved over the plight of the relatives of the APS victims as well 80,000 people who lost their lives in the war against terrorism. "The court should find out why they were killed. It should also find out who is responsible for the 480 drone attacks," he stated.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed observed that it was responsibility of the government to find answers to these questions. "Being the prime minister, you should answer to all these questions." The court and the prime minister also discussed the banned TTP issue.

Justice Qazi Ameen remarked that they have information the state is holding talks with a group.