Karachi law and order case: Top court dismisses police report on city's security situation

Court says suspects are continuing to run illegal operations from within their cells.

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed Additional Inspector General (AIG) Shahid Hayat Khan’s report on security measures taken to maintain law and order in Karachi, Express News reported.

The report – submitted during the hearing of the Karachi law-and-order case – stated that at least 10,000 people were arrested on suspicion during various targeted operations and criminal cases were registered against 175 suspects.

The case was heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justic Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, and including Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain.

During the hearing, the bench expressed dissatisfaction over the report, stating that suspects in prison were running their illegal activities from within their cells without any hindrance.

Khan stated that mobile jammers were installed to prevent jailed suspects from communicating with their supporters outside the prison.

The bench responded that residents of the area around prisons were upset as they were affected by the jammers as well.

The AIG also complained to the bench that the anti-terrorism courts were busy addressing old cases and new cases were not heard in timely manner. The court expressed its displeasure over this, asserting that it is not written that new cases must be heard first.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till February 26.