Pay-up time?: SHC questions delay in paying compensation to lawyers’ heirs

CJ calls for a report from the Sindh police chief on the measures taken to curb targeted killings.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) questioned on Thursday the authorities on the length of time they will take to implement the chief minister’s orders to compensate the families of lawyers killed in targeted attacks across the province.

Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, while heading the bench, also called for a report from the Sindh police chief on the measures adopted by his force to curb the frequent targeted killings of citizens. Two judges were hearing a petition filed by the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) against the failure of the law-enforcement agencies to bring an end to targeted killings of members of the legal fraternity and the delays in the arrest of culprits.

“Since 2007, over 40 lawyers have been assassinated in Karachi,” stated the association. The petitioner stated that the law and order situation in Karachi is deteriorating and the lives as well as the properties of the citizens, including lawyers, are unsafe. In the petition, the court was pleaded to order the police and Rangers to ensure the protection of the members of the lawyers’ community and further direct the government to compensate the families of the victims.

On Thursday, the court was informed that the CM had announced compensation for the relatives of the lawyers but nothing has been received as yet. CJ Baqar directed additional advocate general Muhammad Sarwar Khan to inform the court of how long it will take to implement the orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2014.