The overall number of outlaws released by Sindh government on parole is 228, IG Sindh for Prisons, Zafar Bukhari, told a larger bench of Supreme Court headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Thursday. The court also raised questions about the performance of Rangers which, according to the additional secretary home, had been staying in the city since 1995.
The court inquired about the contribution of Rangers towards efforts aimed at improving law and order in Karachi. The court was of the view that the budget allocated by Sindh government for the Rangers operations in the city should be spent on police to improve latter's performance.
It said the Rangers should be sent back to safeguard borders. The court also took notice of the presence of a large number of non-registered vehicles in the city. Prosecutor General Sindh, Shahadat Awan told the apex court, which has been hearing Karachi unrest case, that the judicial magistrate had no record of the outlaws released on parole. However, IG Sindh for Prison sought to justify the paroles of the outlaws on their "good" conduct.
However, the intelligence agencies report could not be presented before larger bench comprising Justice Amir Muslim Hani, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani and Justice Muhammad Akhtar Saeed. The court expressed its shock over the release of 193 convicted outlaws from jails. The larger bench observed that the Sindh Home Department had set up a parallel judicial system.
IG Sindh for Prisons said the outlaws had been released on the directives of Sindh Home Department. The Prosecutor General Sindh also confirmed that no record in relation to "good" conduct of those outlaws was found at jails. The court also asked the IG Sindh for Prison to explain the "good conduct" of outlaws that justified their release on parole.
Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said 35 under-trial suspects were released on parole in 2003. Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said the government had paroled 35 dangerous criminals. In response to a question raised by Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Additional Secretary Home, Wasim Ahmed replied that the then chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim had sent the summary for the release of inmates. He informed the apex court that the afterwards the IG Sindh had issued directives but the paroled accused could not be re-arrested.
The bench also asked why the government did not take actions against the Taliban who, according to media reports, have penetrated the metropolis. The court wanted the government to rid the city of criminals. The police presented its report to the court on targeted killings in the city. According to which, 2381 killings took place during the last 13 months. It said 761 criminals have been taken into custody, while 3,000 such outlaws are on the run. The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period.