SC hearing starting today may be CJ Chaudhry’s last in city

KARACHI:

Today’s hearing of the Karachi law and order suo motu implementation case might just be Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s last in the city.

The Supreme Court Karachi registry took up this case after the city went through one of its bloodiest summers in August 2011. His retirement is due next month. The bench also includes justices Jawwad Khawaja, Mian Saqib Nisar, Amir Hani Muslim and Ejaz Afzal Khan.

Around 200 different petitions, miscellaneous applications and reports are fixed and expected to be taken up by the bench during the hearing expected to continue till Friday, according to the roster.

SC registrar’s office has already issued notices to the attorney general of Pakistan, Sindh advocate general and acting prosecutor general, the Election Commission of Pakistan secretary, the director general of National Database and Registration Authority, members of the Sindh High Court’s inspection team-II, the provincial home secretary, chief secretary and the inspector general of police.

Also notices have been issued to the city government’s settlement survey and land record department director, the Sindh Board of Revenue’s land utilisation department and the Karachi Development Authority’s land department director to appear with their reports showing how much of the SC orders were passed. In October 2011, the five judges had passed a detailed judgment with various orders and directions on how to control lawlessness in the port city.

A year later, the apex court had initiated follow-up proceedings to see to what extent the authorities at different levels had implemented its orders. The bench may also take up former ports and shipping minister Babar Ghauri plea against the allegations of arms and ammunition smuggling and Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi chairperson Afaq Ahmed’s plea for removal of no-go areas in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2013.