Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday announced that a free and independent judicial commission will be formed soon to probe targeted killings in the metropolis. In July last year, the provincial government had constituted a tribunal to probe target killing incidents in the city but the tribunal could not even start its proceedings. The government then convened an all-parties conference on the issue, but it could also not take place.
On Tuesday, the announcement came during a meeting of the chief minister with a delegation of lawyers held at the Chief Minister’s House.
The lawyers’ delegation comprised Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) President Anwar Mansoor Khan and Secretary Abid Zubairi; Karachi Bar Association (KBA) President Muhammad Aqil and Secretary Haider Imam Rizvi; Malir District Bar Association (MDBA) President Ashraf Sammo and Secretary Khalid Mehmood; and Sindh Bar Council (SBC) Vice Chairman Iftkhar Javed Qazi. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro and Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durani were also present at the meeting.
At the meeting, the lawyers’ bars representatives tabled their issues and urged for the formation of a judicial commission to properly investigate the target killing incidents and arrest the killers. The lawyer bars’ representatives also discussed formation of a committee to deal with killings of lawyers.
After hearing reservations and suggestions from the lawyers, the chief minister assured them of dealing with the matter honestly and taking concrete steps after consultations with the lawyers’ bars. The chief minister also announced compensations for the families of deceased lawyers; arms licences to be provided to lawyers; and exemption from Section 144 on carrying weapons.
According to the SHCBA, the bars and the chief minister reached a conclusion on forming a judicial inquiry committee. It was decided that within four days the Sindh government will write to the Sindh High Court (SHC) chief justice to constitute a commission headed by a serving high court judge.
A three-member investigation committee led by DIG East also announced investigating the cases of deceased lawyers. The committee would be bound to inform about the progress of cases to the lawyers’ bodies.
After the meeting, the lawyers called off their protest boycott and announced resuming their duties from Wednesday.
On Monday, the lawyers had staged a sit-in in front of the Chief Minister’s House against targeted killings of their colleagues. They demanded a judicial probe into the target killing incidents. However, the protesters dispersed peacefully when Shah asked them to meet him the next day.
Last year in July, the Sindh government had formed a tribunal presided by former SHC Judge Ali Sain Dino Metlo to probe incidents of target killing. The government ordered the tribunal to submit its findings within 30 days and anti-terrorism court-II was allotted to the tribunal for the purpose. Necessary staff was also deputed but the tribunal could not start its proceedings due to lack of interest from the Sindh government.
An all-parties conference was also announced and all major political, religious and nationalist parties invited. But the event was postponed by the Sindh government. Sources maintain that both – the tribunal proceedings and the all-parties conference – were postponed due to pressure exerted by a coalition partner.
