The decision was taken at a meeting on Wednesday in the chamber of the chief justice which was attended by Karachi administrative Judge for Accountability Courts/Special Courts Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. The court had summoned Sindh Prosecutor General Shahadat Awan, Sindh Additional Advocate General (AAG) Sarwar Khan – who is representing the Sindh AG – and a Member Inspection Team (MIT- II) of the SHC.
The prosecutor general reaffirmed and reiterated his earlier report which he had submitted to the apex court that only six cases were closed under the NRO and after the SC judgment, the same were re-opened.
The AG’s office adhered to its earlier statement and said more than 3,000 cases including those of heinous offences – in which 8,000 accused were facing trial – were closed under the NRO.
The apex court in its judgment cited the said figures and after the controversy over the number of cases closed under the NRO, the chief justice of the apex court had asked CJ of the SHC to examine and report the actual figures.
The CJ of SHC entrusted the exercise to Justice Shah who held a number of meetings including the one (Wednesday). Since AAG Sarwar was not sure about the facts, he sought extra time from the court to consult the AG.
Before adjourning the meeting, the SHC CJ directed the AAG to file a written statement by today (Thursday) regarding details of the cases.
Over 3,500 cases were closed which included murders, attempted murders, arson, terrorism, kidnapping for ransom etc, and majority of the accused belong to a political party in coalition with the PPP-led Sindh government.
Sources said the figures given by the prosecutor general were reliable and authentic and the cases cited
by the AG before the apex court during the NRO hearings were closed at different stages and were reopened at the same stage.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2012.
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