Karachi law and order: Top court orders law enforcers to arrest 33,000 absconders

Ensure targeted operation yields results, unlike previous ones, says SC bench.

KARACHI:

The Supreme Court ordered the police and Rangers to arrest 1,500 suspected terrorists and 33,000 absconding criminals still at large in Karachi.

During Friday’s hearing of the suo motu case on the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi, the larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, also asked the federal and provincial governments to ensure the ongoing ‘targeted operation’ in Karachi continues to be effective – unlike operations in the past.

The bench, also comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, reiterated the dire increase in crime in the metropolis, including targeted killings, extortion, and the burgeoning drug and land mafias.

Attorney General Munir A Malik submitted an application on the efforts of the federal government, but pleaded for the document to remain confidential.

Meanwhile, Sindh Advocate General Khalid Javed Khan filed a report on behalf of the police IG, showing a comparative data of crimes since the targeted operation was launched.

The bench asked Khan and the police IG to ensure this action against the criminals is carried out efficaciously so that this effort does not fail like previous ones.

Advocate Shahid Anwar Bajwa filed a report on the action initiated by the Rangers against criminals, but sought confidentiality as well because it contained the political affiliations of the accused.

In addition, prosecutor-general Shahadat Awan disclosed that there are 110,549 absconders and proclaimed offenders across the province, including 33,665 in Karachi alone. They’ve absconded during the last five years i.e. the tenure of PPP-led government, he submitted. Moreover, there are 1,500 suspected terrorists who are also on the run, he added.

“If there are 33,000 criminals and 1500 terrorists on the loose on the streets of Karachi, how can peace be possibly restored?” Justice Khawaja questioned.

The bench ordered the police IG and Rangers DG to arrest the criminals with the help of the intelligence agencies. The no-go areas in Sohrab Goth, Pirabad and Manghopir must be eliminated within two weeks, it added.

Illicit arms

The bench came down hard on the chief and home secretaries, saying they were concealing facts and figures regarding arms licenses issued by the government. Quoting media reports, the chief secretary said the number was about one million.

When asked by the court, Rangers DG Major General Rizwan Akhtar said there were no figures to suggest how many arms are available in the city.

The bench asked the provincial law officer to work out a strategy to launch a campaign for the verification of arms licenses, adding that the government may request the court for the help of judicial officers to carry out this task.

The provincial government was ordered to initiate a deweaponisation campaign in Karachi.

The bench also directed the attorney general and the Sindh advocate general to file replies of their respective governments on reports submitted by the Maritime Security Agency regarding the smuggling of arms and ammunitions into Karachi and rest of country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2013.