Suo motu on Karachi violence: SC rejects Sindh govt report, transfers case to Karachi
The Supreme Court rejected on Friday a report submitted by the Sindh government on the Karachi law and order situation and decided to shift the bench to the metropolis to hear the suo motu case.
The apex court also issued notices to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Interior Minister Rehman Malik on a separate petition filed by Tariq Asad who requested the court to direct the executive to advise the president to proclaim emergency in Karachi.
Heading a five-judge bench, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the government has failed to maintain law and order in Karachi. “It is a question of the country’s survival and the issue will have to be resolved.”
The bench rejected the Sindh government’s report and pointed out that groups involved in target killings, abductions and extortion were not identified. The report stated that 300 people were murdered, 232 cases were registered, 117 target killers were arrested and 179 charge sheets were presented in the courts in the last month. Five hundred other cases of violence were also registered. It appears that information was not solicited from the country’s intelligence agencies, which creates the impression there is no intelligence sharing amongst the agencies, the bench observed.
The court directed the attorney general to contact the intelligence agencies for information and file a comprehensive report. Attorney General (AGP) Maulvi Anwarul Haq, advocate general Sindh, chief secretary and inspector general police Sindh appeared before the court. Dr Babar Awan represented the government as a private counsel.
“Why did the government not take action against the groups involved in target killings and allow them to behead people?” Justice Ghulam Rabbani questioned.
The Sindh advocate general argued that the court cannot help mitigate the violence and cited the example of an ‘assassin’ released by a court who had murdered more than a hundred people.
The chief justice said the court cannot award punishment without sufficient evidence; the weakness lies with investigation agencies and the prosecution. He questioned the AGP on the government’s failure to enforce article 9 of the constitution.
The court has taken suo motu notice in accordance with the constitution and is conducting the proceedings on the demand of 180 million people, the chief justice said. “Protection of fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution is the court’s responsibility and we will ensure the constitution is enforced at any cost.”
Sindh government’s counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada submitted that no government can resolve the Karachi dilemma within a day. “There is no point in calling out the army in Karachi since it is a political issue.”
The bench reprimanded Sindh’s chief secretary and inspector general police for neglecting their work and appearing before the court in person. The court adjourned the case till August 29.
A press note from the Supreme Court stated that entry into courtroom No 1 at the branch registry, Karachi, will be regulated by passes. Special arrangements have been made for foolproof security on the court premises.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (7)
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@Arzoo Some time ago the superior judiciary took it on themselves to regulate the price of sugar. What happened ?? They got egg on their face. Something not desirable for body that is a pillar of the state.
The PCO SC CJ should listen to all sides including political parties and agencies. Only after the hearing is complete, it can pass judgement. However, making political populist remarks and mini speeches during each hearing is not fair or balanced. It is an open secret that police has detained many terrorists but the independent courts have released them, especially if they belong to Nawaz or religious parties. "Justice should be fair and it should appear to be fair".
The story is poorly written, mostly in passive voice. I will request the reporter to rewrite it before placing on the internet. Meanwhile, what the CJ is doing is nothing but putting himself in the news.
@Muhammad Mushtaq: "over-reaction by the court???????" Over a thousand people massacred and you are calling Supreme Court's action over-reaction????? More than the killers' inhumanity, I am beginning to question Pakistani citizens' sanity. In other countries governments will be toppled at the failure of Government to control mayhem on a scale 1/10th of the genocide in Karachi. Would you be happy if this issue is raised in international forums for the world to act???? I am sure Pakistan's enemies will salivate at the prospect of such a move.
@parvez: So you are suggesting that since Supreme Court has not been able to get its' decisions implemented, they should pack up and go???? We need to raise our voices in support of the SC and appeal to the Government to respect the Court and implement its' decisions. Civil Society has the responsiblity to raise their voice in support of the Court and if the non-implementation still persists then protests should be held to force the government. Solution is not that SC remain quiet while innocent citizens, regardless of their ethnicities and religion, are being slaughtered. I will go to the extent that even if SC's decision is not implemented at least the record will indicate that SC took notice, gave judgment, and PPP Government failed to implement it.
The Karachi situation is very complex. The process being followed by political govt is though delayed but this is the the right action. The action could be taken by provincial Govt in haste but then it always leave many questions. However the sou Motu notice of Supreme Court seems to be over action by the judiciary. We do not under stand that yesterday the court has released 24 people who were involved in attacking Islamabad Police Station to get Aqeel Anjum Released. But supreme Court has not taken any sou Motu action of this issue. Surprising.
we request the Honorable Court to let the Political Govt to work.
The SC is unable to have its instructions implemented in straight forward cases It seems unwise for it to enter a purely politically engineered situation.