Extrajudicial killings of MQM workers: SHC gives one-week time for compliance of earlier order

Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday gave one-week time to provincial law officer to submit a comprehensive report in compliance of its earlier order that directed him to discuss the issue of extrajudicial killings of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists with chief minister and other higher authorities to work out a mechanism to reveal the truth behind the killings and prevent such incidents.
The bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, was seized with the hearing of half a dozen of identical petitions against extrajudicial killing of MQM activists during ongoing operation in Karachi. It directed advocate general (AG) Sindh to submit a report in compliance of its earlier order within a week and adjourned the hearing of cases till July 14.
One petition was filed by Syed Qamar Abbas Rizvi who sought inquiry into alleged extrajudicial killing of his brother Syed Yawar Abbas Rizvi, a MQM activist. The petitioner said Yawar was picked up by LEA personnel from PIB Colony on November 6, 2013 and later his body was found in Nooriabad area on December 14. In another petition Syed Asif Hasnain, a lawmaker belonging to MQM, submitted that MQM activist Muhammad Suleman alias Salman with his nephew Muhammad Noman was on his way to office, when LEAs illegally arrested them from Malir River on February 3, 2013. He said that later on February 6, wife of the activist learnt through newspaper that the body of her husband was found from Malir River.
Earlier on May 29, the court had directed the AG Sindh to take up the matter with the Sindh chief minister, home secretary, DG Rangers, IG Sindh and other concerned officers so that a viable mechanism, acceptable to all, may be devised for discovering the truth and putting into effect for preventing such incident.