Murad Ali's taxi. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: During the first hearing of the taxi driver murder case, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said this is not the first time Rangers officers have acted irresponsibly, while recalling the killings of Sarfaraz Shah and Ghulam Haider by Rangers personnel.
On July 18, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the murder of a taxi driver in Karachi.
The case was heard by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed.
Unarmed taxi driver Murad Ali was driving his son Zohaib to a doctor near their home in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on July 16, before stopping to buy fruit for Iftar when he was shot dead by Ghulam Rasul, the Rangers soldier responsible for the incident.
The driver was shot four times in the chest. Murad’s son was unharmed but he was unable to speak after witnessing the whole shocking episode.
Rangers’ physical remand
Three other Rangers officers – booked in the murder case along with Rasul – were presented before a magistrate’s court in Karachi today.
The court awarded physical remand of these officers. All four accused Rangers personnel will appear before the court on July 22.
COMMENTS (30)
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@Asif Butt: The rangers did not kill the driver on personel enmity nor there was any land dispute amongst them. Rangers were on their duty. Few days back at same place a ranger was killed by passerby motore bike who sprayed bullets. Now in this situation if a taxi does not stop and give evasive gesture what should be done.
These are the side effects of excessive,without any limitations and restrictions and without any proper check and balance powers the government gives to any law enforcement agencies and rangers......
@ M.Irfan Maqsood: People like you seem to be suffering from MQM fobia. Taxi driver was not a MQM worker, he was a poor pakistani who was shot dead by showing great irresponsibility. One side you people cry for constitution and law and on the other want to make this karachi a city of jungle where no rules, regulation and law is enforce. We are paying millions of rupees to rangers to enforce law and order in city, but they have miserably failed even to clear Lyari from gangesters where poor kutchi community have been forced to leave their homes and muhallas. In fact, people like you should be ashamed for protecting such lawlessness.
People like Asim and Jibran leave no stone unturned in bashing judiciary just for the sake of it. Yes, for the sake of it! Comparing apples with oranges is not something new by self-acclaimed analysts (sic). CJ should take suo moto of each and every injustice that takes place in the land of 'pure' even if these so called patriots keep crying foul over it. Wonder if the same wisemen had commented as such if their own father had been killed by rangers in cold blood. Moreover, how did any of you establish that the taxi driver had no intention to stop and was driving away? What proof did the rangers have of the malicious intent of the taxi driver, since he was unarmed and a child merely 2 years old was seated next to him?
No doubt, a father was killed in front of his son and it is really sad and should be taking seriously, but what about the hundreds of Hazara Shia's targeted killed in Baluchistan in one after another incident, they refused to burry the dead for days in protest and thousands of Hazara’s plus the whole nation demanding Suo moto, where was Mr. CJ than? Why no suo Moto for mass murder of Hazaras??? This is Clash of institution; nothing else.!!
This will also not first time that such kind of criminals will be released soon, like in other cases will be freed. So what is the new in Suo-Moto taken by CJ of Pakistan? if the justice will not be prevailed?
they should be handed on...no tolerance for extra judicial killings
Karachi is a war zone. This is collateral damage.
@cupid: "..What the rangers should do if someone refuse to stop on a check post...."
Why are you discussing CHECK POSTS and the assignment of rangers to it with me ?
This incident where the father was killed was not related to a check post.
And I dont recall ever saying anything as to whether rangers appointment is valid or valid.
Maybe you meant to comment to someone else instead...
frustrating and disappointing
In the situation like Karachi, unfortunately innocent people dies from Police or Rangers in order coupe with culprits.
Anybody please update me, is there any terrorist so far been convicted in any court.....????
@Ali: My point is SC-CJ is acting for selective justice which is important for him not to the public; Following cases demonstrates where CJ closed eyes
1-Imran khan contested polls in violation of article 62 2- Njam sethi made interim PM in violation of article 62 3- Nawaz became PM despite corruption charges ...
The question that why rangers shot on taxi driver? taxi driver was being stopped by rangers but he did not stop, y? That was a plan game against the rangers because the presence of rangers in Karachi is not in the favor of MQM and other political terrorists. Courts should respect the duties of security forces and court clear this issue in the favor of security forces. otherwise no any body will follow the police and ranger's signal and then in ranger will become weak and military will invade in any security concerning issue. Shame on all Pakistanis who are saying this was irresponsibility of Rangers. No any body is saying that this was the result of irresponsibility of nation.
it isn't guilty of rangers soldier,suppose taxi driver was a criminal then rangers soldier will be accountable for that tragedy.please don't discourage soldiers already condition of Gulistan -e- juahar isn't enough.
So many people get killed and the cases have to follow the normal judicial system. What is the criteria for the apex court to step in directly.
@Asif Butt: What the rangers should do if someone refuse to stop on a check post. Why rangers are employed in Karachi. Why are there check posts? There is every where peace in the country because the mighty judiciary has sent every terrorist to gallows,,,
ok so if someone is asked to stop and is rushing towards a check point? can that person not be a suicide bomber? so its ok for that rangers person who has been given the authority to stop and search to not protect his life and die? the lesson to be learnt from this is straight forward. if the rangers or cops stop you. you should stop". period. this is a time when random motorcycles and cars ram into security forces to kill them. when target killers run checkpoints shooting the jawans. shame on the CJ maybe he needs to spend a day at one of these posts to realize that the reality is if the person does not stop. he is going against the states authority and most likely has something to hide. or worse yet is a suicide bomber. i salute you jawans of the army, rangers and police force. you put your own lives on the line and all you get is ungratefulness from our stupid chief justice. the sooner his term ends the better for pakistan. pakistan zindadbad.
We have been facing blasts around since long now and law and order is so pathetic specially khi in particular. Every life including criminals is important but it is very important to understand the dynamics of situation before jumping to conclusions. Someone walks in and doesnt stop for routine checking at security checkup is highly irresposible kind of attitude and what if the security guy doesnt open the fire and the guy blows him after crossing checkpost. Who will take responsibility for those lives... so important is to respect the instutions with a training, control and monitoring system on forces to avoid any misuse of power.
@imran.....why you people and media are so biased against our army.....if they considered themselves above law then they wont allow they ex cheif to be in front of these courts....
This is not the first time CJ acted irresponsible in taking suo mouto notice.......it was taxi driver mistake as he didnt stop the car on rangers check post even after one of the ranger fire two air shoots...though it is sad incident but to blame rangers for this is not justice.......CJ why wont you take action when dozen of normal citizen are killed by NAMALOOM AFRAD in karachi....
@asim:
The term "National importance" means anything important to a nation. Hence murder and unlawful murder fall into this category.
But maybe you meant something else to reflect your mind but couldnt get the right word at the time.
National Impotence ?...
It was unfortunate incident but Rangers had no other choice. Their superiors are cowards and opportunists who are not siding with their Jawans. Shame on them.
@Ali: Father killed in front of a son is not an issue. Target killers, hustlers, land grabbers, smugglers, terrorists are also sons, brothers, fathers of someone. The point to be investigated is that did he not stop after being asked. Rest of the case hinges on this statement of the rangers. And of course, no matter how highly he thinks of himself, the mighty CJ is not capable of doing the investigations. Period!
This won't be the last time. Army and Rangers consider themselves above law and final arbiter of any dispute or situation. Same mentality overwhelmed them when they killed Bengalis in East Pakistan under some supremacy complexes. Now the rest of the left over society created post 1971 is treated like this.
@Ali: dude you hit the nail on the head..i am glade i share the same name as you. our entire nation is full of people like these....the line that the son can not speak after witnessing this incidence is enough to bring tears in my eyes.
@asim A father was killed in front of his son.yet you seek other important issues.pity on you
And can you remember how many times you did that?
It is really strange CJ-SC takes suo motto on issues which are not of national importance.
Nawaz became PM despite various allegations and he is sleeping.
God help Pakistan.