KARACHI, May 30: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that the three-member inquiry committee, which was recently constituted by the provincial police chief to conduct an inquiry into the breakdown of law and order on May 12, have not make any progress because they have received no cooperation from the registrar of the Sindh High Court.

The chief minister, who was accompanied by committee members Additional Special Branch IG Mohammad Bachal Sangri, DIG Investigation Manzoor Mughal and Nazimabad TPO Naeem Shaikh, addressed a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House on Wednesday evening.

He said in their complaint the registrar and judges had informed the SHC Chief Justice on May 12 that they had to face hardship in reaching the high court premises.

The inquiry committee was formed to investigate the complaints and fix responsibility, he said.

He said that the reason why the committee was not formed immediately after the incident was that the opposition would not have accepted it. Besides, he said, since there was no single party involved, it was decided that the committee should be formed later.

Mr Sangri, who is the chairman of the committee, said Manzoor Mughal was deputed to meet the registrar and record the latter’s statement. On telephone, the registrar told him that a larger bench had already been formed for the purpose on the order of the Sindh High Court Chief Justice and since the issue was before the bench, he could not be of any help to Mr Mughal.

In reply to a question, Mr Sangri conceded that the inquiry committee was constituted after the larger bench of the Sindh High Court had been formed.

When asked why the need for an inquiry committee was felt after the constitution of the larger bench of the high court, the chief minister said the executive had to play its due role.

However, he said, overall inquiry of the May 12 incidents would be conducted by an official -- perhaps a retired judge or a serving judge -- so that all those involved in the tragedy could be exposed. He said there was a difference of opinion on this matter. “We are looking for a person who has credibility,” he added.

The chief minister conceded that he did say that there was no use of setting up investigation commission arguing that the Nishtar Park tragedy investigation also made little headway.

However, he assured people that a proper committee would be formed to expose those found involved in May 12 incidents.

He said in the given situation the nation and the legislature had to think which system would suit the nation and what would be the mode of dispensation of justice.

When his attention was drawn to the incident of dropping envelopes carrying bullets in the cars of the journalists whose names had been mentioned in a list issued by Mohajir Rabita Council, he said if the envelopes had any address, he would take action.