Sindh

Extrajudicial killings: Court informed that LEAs can’t track militant networks

AG says several Rangers and policemen have lost their lives in Karachi operation.

Ppi July 14, 2014

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday was informed that despite efforts, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) could not track down the network of large number of militants who shifted to Karachi after various operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The advocate general (AG) of Sindh, Abdul Fatah Malik, made this statement in a report submitted to the SHC division bench which was hearing petitions against extrajudicial killing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists during the ongoing operation in Karachi.

The AG submitted that in pursuance of the court's order, the chief minister (CM) of Sindh had two meetings to discuss the issue. He said that the CM had directed the DG Rangers and IG Sindh to maintain the highest standard of professionalism so that no human rights were violated.

He pointed out that as a result of various operations in K-P, a large number of militants had shifted to Karachi and despite making an effort, LEAs could not track their network. He said that they were struggling to maintain law and order in the city and arrest the militants, adding that many Rangers and police personnel had lost their lives in the process.

Earlier on May 29, the court had directed AG Sindh to take up the matter with the CM, home secretary, DG Rangers, IG Sindh and other officers so that a viable mechanism could be devised for discovering the truth and preventing such incidents.

One of the petitions was filed by Syed Qamar Abbas Rizvi who sought an inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial killing of his brother, Syed Yawar Abbas Rizvi, an MQM activist. The petitioner said that Yawar was picked up by law enforcers from PIB Colony on November 6, 2013 and his body was found in Nooriabad on December 14.

In another petition filed by Syed Asif Hasnain, an MQM MPA, submitted that party activist Muhammad Suleman and his nephew Muhammad Noman were on their way to work, when law enforcers illegally arrested them from Malir River on February 3, 2013. He said that they found out about Suleman's death on February 6 when the activist's wife read about that his body had been found near Malir River.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2014.