Federal government submits Karachi law and order report

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed hearing the Karachi law and order implementation case at its registry here on Thursday. The case was heard by a five member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Federal Government Report

During proceedings, Attorney General Munir A Malik submitted the federal government’s report over the law and order situation in the city.

The report submitted by the federal government states that Karachi faces numerous dangers. The reason attributed to this is the rapid increase in the city’s population. Terrorism, sectarianism, ethnic and political killings are some of the large impediments to law and order in the city.

According to the report, drugs, smuggling, extortion and possession of illegal weapons has become the norm in Karachi. There is a need to increase the deployment of Rangers and police to maintain law and order.

The report calls for action against members of the Muhajir Republican Army while an operation in Lyari should be avoided. If the need arises, there can be a ban placed on pillion riding and use of mobile phones in Lyari.

The report also called for modern equipment to be provided for the identification of criminals.

Attorney General, Munir A Malik informed the apex court that after the passage of the 18th amendment the role of the federal government was cautious. Malik added that there was a government of different political parties in the centre and Sindh.

Chief Justice replied that the constitution was the same irrespective of which parties were in government.

DIG South Appears Before SC

Appearing before the Supreme Court, DIG South Ameer Sheikh said that policemen who had taken part in the 1992 operation had been targeted and killed. “If we capture members of the Sunni Tehreek, Katchi, Baloch or Muttahida, unknown men set fire to Karachi.” The DIG added that help was required to capture criminals as those policemen who work on principal are transferred.

Sheikh informed the apex court that under these conditions it was not possible to yield results.

Chief Justice Chaudhry told the DIG South to work bravely and inform the court if there were any hurdles or transfers. ‘Lyari is not the Temple of Somnath which cannot be conquered.”

Addressing IG Police Sindh, Chief Justice Chaudhry said” “If you cannot do anything let us know. We will tell the federation to appoint capable officers. We ourselves think that IG Sindh may be a victim of expediency and is giving a bad name to the system.”


SC Rejects IG Sindh, Chief Secretary Report

Earlier during proceedings, the apex court rejected the report presented by IG Police Sindh and Chief Secretary. Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that if the report was accepted it would mean that there had been no killings in Karachi today. The chief justice added that drugs, smuggled goods and weapons were being supplied throughout Pakistan via Karachi port.

“Peace will not be restored until institutions are neutral.”

The chief justice asked what intelligence agencies were doing if entire containers of weapons were disappearing from the Karachi port. The apex court has also summoned a report regarding the transfer of weapons from the port.

While addressing the Chief Secretary, CJ said that he did not write to the federation about preventing arms and weapons to enter through the Karachi Port. He said that 60-70 percent revenue is generated from this city and it feeds the entire country.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the report, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry remarked that they are admitting that no-go areas existed in Karachi. He said that had they been prevented in the beginning, the situation would have been much better today.

He, then, criticized the press conferences and remarked that the parties have started politics as soon as the SC bench arrived in the city to hear the case.

While having an argument with the advocate general, the CJ said that if anyone is interested in earning credit, then one should fulfil one’s duties first. He, then, asked the advocate general about Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and inquired about its head and trainers.

The advocate general apprised the bench that CPLC is an effective institution to solve kidnapping for ransom cases. He further told that Ahmed Chinoy is the head of CPLC while it works under Governor Sindh.
Responding to this, the CJ said it meant that police department is not capable to undertake this job.

Attorney General Munir A Malik said that advocate general should write to the federation about the issues faced by Sindh. An important session of the Federal Cabinet has been summoned to discuss the Karachi unrest next week.