Accountability: SC demands explanation in missing persons’ case
Summons FC officer to explain abductions; seeks report on black money.
Summons FC officer to explain abductions; seeks report on black money. DESIGN: SIDRAH MOIZ KHAN
KARACHI:
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday summoned a Frontier Constabulary (FC) officer to explain why the police are complaining about a lack of cooperation on the issue of missing persons.
“The families of missing persons are compelled to travel from Quetta to Karachi by foot to seek their rights,” remarked the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who headed the larger bench at the SC’s Karachi registry.
“But the government has not even bothered to provide them with shelter or meals,” he added during the hearing of a case seeking recovery of two missing doctors.
Cardiologist Dr Munaf Tareen was kidnapped by armed men on September 17, in front of his hospital at the Pishin bus stop in Quetta. Dr Arbab Zahir was kidnapped on October 23.
Additional IG, Balochistan, Mir Zubair informed the bench that the police are taking the necessary steps for the recovery of the missing doctors, but that no major breakthrough has been made so far.
Zubair complained that FC officials are not cooperating with the police to trace the whereabouts of missing doctors and other missing persons.
“More than 50% of the doctors have migrated from Quetta due to the deteriorating law and order situation,” AIG Zubair said.
The apex court took notice of this statement and ordered a responsible officer of the FC to appear in court and explain the FC’s role in recovering missing men.
‘Stop flow of black money’
The SC observed on Wednesday that a zero tolerance policy must be adopted to plug the flow of black money in Karachi.
The apex court’s larger bench has summoned the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue to appear in court today (Thursday) with a report detailing steps taken to curb the flow of smuggled arms, drugs and black money generated by the evasion of duties on imports.
During the hearing of the suo motu of Karachi law and order, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said, “The law and order situation in Karachi will not improve without plugging the flow of black money, which is the main reason behind crime in the city.”
“The crime needs to be stopped by adopting the policy of zero tolerance the tax evasions,” he added. The other bench members included Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan.
The bench expressed its dissatisfaction over three reports submitted by the customs department on action taken by them to curb tax duties evasion on imports.
CJ Chaudhry noted that the corrupt mafia needs to be eliminated from the customs department by inducting young people. “Why don’t you white wash the offices? Replace the corrupt with honest young persons,” he said.
The customs officials were also told to submit complete details of the imports handled at the two sea ports, to give an idea of the average recovery of tax duties and evasion on a daily basis. It also directed Attorney General Munir A Malik and Sindh Advocate General Khalid Javed Khan to given their opinios on ensuring accountability in the recovery of import duties today.
The chief justice said the court would consider ordering the audit of the customs department operations through a private chartered accountancy firm.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2013.
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday summoned a Frontier Constabulary (FC) officer to explain why the police are complaining about a lack of cooperation on the issue of missing persons.
“The families of missing persons are compelled to travel from Quetta to Karachi by foot to seek their rights,” remarked the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who headed the larger bench at the SC’s Karachi registry.
“But the government has not even bothered to provide them with shelter or meals,” he added during the hearing of a case seeking recovery of two missing doctors.
Cardiologist Dr Munaf Tareen was kidnapped by armed men on September 17, in front of his hospital at the Pishin bus stop in Quetta. Dr Arbab Zahir was kidnapped on October 23.
Additional IG, Balochistan, Mir Zubair informed the bench that the police are taking the necessary steps for the recovery of the missing doctors, but that no major breakthrough has been made so far.
Zubair complained that FC officials are not cooperating with the police to trace the whereabouts of missing doctors and other missing persons.
“More than 50% of the doctors have migrated from Quetta due to the deteriorating law and order situation,” AIG Zubair said.
The apex court took notice of this statement and ordered a responsible officer of the FC to appear in court and explain the FC’s role in recovering missing men.
‘Stop flow of black money’
The SC observed on Wednesday that a zero tolerance policy must be adopted to plug the flow of black money in Karachi.
The apex court’s larger bench has summoned the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue to appear in court today (Thursday) with a report detailing steps taken to curb the flow of smuggled arms, drugs and black money generated by the evasion of duties on imports.
During the hearing of the suo motu of Karachi law and order, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said, “The law and order situation in Karachi will not improve without plugging the flow of black money, which is the main reason behind crime in the city.”
“The crime needs to be stopped by adopting the policy of zero tolerance the tax evasions,” he added. The other bench members included Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan.
The bench expressed its dissatisfaction over three reports submitted by the customs department on action taken by them to curb tax duties evasion on imports.
CJ Chaudhry noted that the corrupt mafia needs to be eliminated from the customs department by inducting young people. “Why don’t you white wash the offices? Replace the corrupt with honest young persons,” he said.
The customs officials were also told to submit complete details of the imports handled at the two sea ports, to give an idea of the average recovery of tax duties and evasion on a daily basis. It also directed Attorney General Munir A Malik and Sindh Advocate General Khalid Javed Khan to given their opinios on ensuring accountability in the recovery of import duties today.
The chief justice said the court would consider ordering the audit of the customs department operations through a private chartered accountancy firm.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2013.