SC-Khi-registry-670
A police commando stands alert outside the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry, October 23, 2012. — Photo by PPI

KARACHI: During Thursday’s hearing of the Karachi law and order case, Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that there was not a semblance of law and order in the city, DawnNews reported.

A five-member larger bench of the apex court comprising Justices Jamali, Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Khilji Arif Hussain, Gulzar Ahmed and Amir Hani Muslim was seized with the proceedings for the implementation of the apex court’s earlier order in a Karachi killings suo motu case.

Last year, the Supreme Court had given its detailed order in the case after the chief justice had taken suo motu action on the security situation in the city.

During the hearing, the police submitted its report pertaining to targeted killings and told the bench that police had been taking targeted action against terrorists in various areas of the city, including Sohrab Goth and Manghopir.

The bench expressed its displeasure upon reviewing the report and inquired as to what the Rangers personnel had accomplished that Additional Chief Secretary (home) Waseem Ahmed had praised their performance.

The court moreover inquired whether Ahmed's praise meant that the police in Karachi should be replaced with the Rangers.

The court was informed that terrorists had targeted high-ranking police officials on several occasions.

The bench stated that anything was possible in a country where those responsible for the killings of police officials could not be arrested.

The bench summoned a list of people murdered during the past one year as well as a monthly report on the city's public transport.

Justice Khilji in his remarks said that 90 per cent of the city's population was undergoing immense mental stress, adding that, each killing led to creating fear and panic amongst the public.

He said the police had been labelling murders as targeted killings on its whim, adding that, it was ordinary people who had been dying.

Also today, a list of prisoners released on parole was submitted to the bench. According to the list, 193 convicted, whereas 53 accused prisoners had been released.

The bench directed authorities to act against cars without number plates with immediate effect.

The bench adjourned the hearing sine die.

Earlier on Wednesday, the bench had ordered the Sindh police chief and other authorities to submit a report on infiltration of over 7,000 Taliban activists in Karachi and release of 150 convicts on parole.

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...
Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.