The Supreme Court on Friday directed Chief Secretary and Inspector General Police, Sindh and Director General of Rangers to ensure protection to life and property of the people and submit a joint report showing progress in maintaining law and order situation in Karachi within two weeks.
The court noted that general elections were scheduled in the coming months, therefore, it was the duty of caretaker government, police and rangers to do utmost to ensure protection to life and property of the citizens. A larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the Karachi law and order implementation case on Friday at its registry in
Karachi. Other members of bench were justices Jawwad S Khawaja, Khilji Arif Hussain, Amir Hani Muslim and Ejaz Afzal Khan. The court expressed displeasure over Rangers, police and provincial government for not submitting joint report regarding the presence of 'no-go' areas in the city. The court was irked after knowing that DG Rangers was absent and asked from his counsel about the progress so far made by the Rangers for restoration of peace in Karachi.
The CJ said that Rangers were equally responsible for the worrisome situation of the city, adding since the Rangers do not show serious attitude, they would fail to acquire the purpose for which they have been deployed in Karachi. The CJ expressed dismay over Rangers, saying that even two Rangers personnel were murdered and badly tortured but the suspects involved in their murder have not yet been arrested.
The CJP remarked that clearing no-go areas do not mean that criminals, land grabbers, extortionists and other outlaws were allowed to rule such areas. Acting chief secretary told the court that there might be more than one no-go area in Karachi where government writ was challenged and law enforces were toothless and outlaws exercising their powers.
SSP Niaz Khoso told the court that half of the city had become no-go area, adding that when complaints regarding ransom were received from Lyari and similar other crime-infested areas, they batter suggest the complainants to pay the ransom.
The court said that contradictory statements about the presence of the no-go areas were made by the Rangers and police. The court again directed acting chief secretary, provincial police chief and DG rangers to hold meeting and file a joint statement. Chief Secretary submitted a fresh joint statement stating that it had been concluded that in the various areas of the city the writ of State was being challenged. He said that IG Sindh and DG Rangers would make joint efforts to ensure security and peace in such areas. He requested the court for granting time to complete such task.
Whereas the court expressed dissatisfaction over the statement, saying that joint statement was not sufficient to redress grievances of general public and it would not solve the problem of the citizens. The court said that it had made observations regarding presence of the no-go areas in Karachi and directed law enforcing agencies to clear all such areas, but unfortunately the situation further deteriorated.
Acting IG Sindh submitted his report showing that police arrested 224 accused in the year 2012, mostly belonging to outlawed organisations and political parties. The report revealed that out of these 224 alleged target killers arrested by the police, 27 had affiliations with TTP, 81 with MQM, 38 with Sunni Tehreek, 17 were from Lyari gangs, 2 from LeJ, 13 from ANP, 4 from outlawed Sipha-e-Muhammad and 4 from Mohajir Qaumi Movement besides other related to other political parties including the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
The court also took up the matter of 14 retired officers appointed on contract basis in the police department. It observed that as retired people were re-employed on the contract basis in police department against sanctioned force, the promotions of the junior officers were blocked till such officer continue their contract period. The court observed that in accordance with law promotions of the employee should not be blocked to accommodate the retired officers. It said that surprisingly the services department itself had not supported such employments.
Advocate general of Sindh asked the court to grant time to enable the caretaker CM to approve summary for removing such persons and allowing junior officers to occupy the posts. The court said that appointments of such persons were not in accordance with law. It, therefore, directed the AG to seek instructions of the caretaker CM regarding this matter during the course of day. After the recess, the AG informed the court that notification had been issued by the provincial government and contracts of all such officers were cancelled.