Pak authorities yet to confirm number of court attackers

Despite a week after the deadly attack on a local court here, Pakistani authorities are yet to confirm the total number of persons involved in the brazen attack that left 11 people dead.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, today heard the suo motu case.
The chief Justice had taken suo motu notice of March 3 attack, the deadliest to hit the heavily-guarded capital in more than five years.
The apex court expressed its disappointment over a report submitted by the Inspector-General of Islamabad police.
The court objected that the IG's report did not give any clue regarding the court's security plan nor did it explain whether the policemen pursued the attackers or made any effort to stop them from escaping.

The chief justice was also upset at the conflicting numbers of attackers being reported by different witnesses.

He said that according to the IGP's report, two gunmen attacked the court premises, but the number of attackers reported by lawyers was greater than eight.
The Chief Commissioner in his report to the apex court said there were four attackers. The IG replied that further evidence was still being collected.
The court ordered him to submit a revised report within two days. The hearing was subsequently adjourned to March 17.
An inquiry committee formed by the Islamabad High Court last week and headed by Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had halted its work after the apex court took sou motu notice of the incident.

The Supreme Court directed the committee today to continue its probe and submit its report to the apex court.
On March 3, 11 people, including additional sessions judge Rafaqat Awan, were killed and 29 others wounded during a gun and bomb attack in a court here.