Policemen escort arrested hand-cuffed paramilitary soldiers to an anti-terrorism court in Karachi.—AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court directed an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi on Wednesday to expedite the trial involving the cold-blooded killing of a young man by Rangers personnel at a park on June 9.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Amir Hani Muslim that had taken notice of the killing of Sarfaraz Shah also asked the ATC to conduct the trial in a transparent manner and submit a compliance report to the apex court in two weeks.

Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Mazhar Chaudhry sought one month's time for submission of the report, saying the special court had yet to complete the trial. The court rejected the request and said that giving further time would amount to injustice.

On June 10, a larger bench of the apex court had set a three-day deadline for the removal of Sindh Rangers' Director General Maj-Gen Ejaz Chaudhry and Inspector General of Sindh Police Fayyaz Leghari with an observation that such incidents increased hatred against security forces.

The chief justice had deplored that the appointment of incompetent officials led to poor administration. The bench had ordered the Accountant General of Pakistan to withhold salary of the two officials if the court orders were not implemented.

The government complied with the court orders and removed the Rangers DG and Sindh IG.

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