Karachi suo motu case: SC hands tied as govt assists criminals, says CJP

Babar Awan denies ‘failure’ to control Karachi situation, says govt needs ‘an attention call, not a wakeup...

KARACHI: In a stunning rebuke of the government’s inability to curb ‘anti-state activities’, the Supreme Court termed the executive branch’s  inaction as being tantamount to ‘assisting criminals’, adding that its hands were tied under such circumstances.

During Wednesday’s suo motu proceedings into Karachi violence, Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that criminals were “roaming around, free from any fear,” while the government “turns a blind eye.”

“Look at [Interior Minister] Rehman Malik’s statements, admitting that he can disclose the names of target killers in public if permitted by us (the Supreme Court),” he said, adding that Malik also admitted that 16,000 acres of government land is encroached by influential people, including those from the ruling PPP.

“Claims and arguments that things are improving are unimpressive after the statement by the interior minister,” the court said.

The CJP observed that the DG Rangers also stated he was helpless in the Karachi situation due to the absence of authority. He added that while the apex court appreciates efforts by the police, till this day the government has been far from forthcoming and has failed to denounce the criminal elements within the ranks of political parties.

The bench referred to the investigation of Ajmal Pahari, saying that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report was placed on record by an attorney of the Awami National Party (ANP), not by the government. In this regard, the bench rhetorically questioned whether the government possessed the JIT.

Representing the government, Senator Babar Awan told the court to give the government credit for “speaking the truth before the court”.

“People were killed and slaughtered and the injured were unable to go to hospitals in areas that had influences of another community; the government calls this successful?” the CJP asked Awan.

Further mentioning Malik’s statements regarding the 16,000 acres of government encroached land, Justice Amir Hani Muslim said that evidently the government is privy to the encroachment.

“This is a very sweeping statement,” said Awan.

Senator Awan elaborated the ‘13 steps’ taken by the government to improve the law and order situation in Karachi.

Dissatisfied, the court asked, “If [these steps were actually taken] what improvement has been brought during the past eight months?”

However, Awan was unable to answer when asked how many JITs were conducted during the past weeks of violence in Karachi.

(Read: Babar Awan downplays Karachi volatility)

He, however, said that government has the will to control the situation in Karachi and there were ample instances, actions and directives taken on part of the executive head.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th,  2011.