KARACHI: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Tuesday said if the flow of smuggled arms and narcotics is restricted throughout Karachi, situation in the city would be normalised.

The chief justice, heading a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, was hearing the implementation of Karachi unrest case at the SC’s Karachi registry.

He appreciated the efforts of police and rangers forces in arresting criminals during the ongoing targeted operation in the port city and remarked that both law enforcement agencies had begun to realise their responsibility.

Other members of the bench are Justice Jawad S. Khuwaja and Justice Gulzar Ahmed.

After going through the reports submitted by rangers and police regarding clampdown against outlaws, one member of the bench asked the counsel appearing on behalf of rangers whether arrested criminals were being put on trial in the courts.

The counsel told the court that rangers handed over the suspects to police, which have lodged FIR against them and charge-sheeted them in the courts, adding that several suspects were also being interrogated by a joint investigation team.

To a question regarding results of the operation being conducted in the city, Advocate General Sindh Khalid Javed Khan said that operation was yielding results and an improvement in Karachi’s law and order situation was noticeable.

The chief justice questioned the advocate general about the situation prevailing in Lyari and also asked whether the troubled neighbourhood was still a no-go-area and citizens were enjoying rights under Article 9 of the Constitution, which guarantees security to every citizen.

To which, the advocate general said that the ongoing violence in Lyari was a clash of two rival gangster groups. He said that a gradual progress was being made in enforcing the Article 9 of the Constitution.

The chief justice remarked during the proceeding that anti-social elements want to take hold of the city by controlling its economy. He said it was necessary to prevent flow of illegal weapons in the city.

Upon an unsatisfactory reply from the chief collector customs, the chief justice said the court might order rangers to check each and every container leaving the port for 15 days for unearthing the truth behind claims of the port authorities.

He lamented that it was very dismal situation that no one was ready to apprise the court of the truth, adding that it was matter of grave concern that customs officials were not discharging their duties properly.

Justice Chaudhry said the country suffers huge losses due to tax evasion and smuggling of goods.

He said Pakistani markets were flooded with goods smuggled through Afghan Transit Trade (ATT). Justice Khawaja said due to inaction of customs officials, Iranian oil was being smuggled into the country and sold in Sindh, Punjab including other areas.

The court issued notice to the chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to appear in person and apprise it about efforts in controlling smuggling and tax evasion.

The bench also sought appearance of the DG Anti-Narcotics Force for failing to control the menace from spreading in the city.