Afaq ‘still without protection’

Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed has filed a contempt-of-court plea in the Supreme Court against alleged non-compliance of the Sindh High Court (SHC)’s orders to provide full security to him and to end no-go areas, if any, in the metropolitan.
In his application filed at the apex court’s Karachi registry, Ahmed said that the SHC had ordered to provide him full security, allowing him free movement and participation in political activities, and to end no-go areas that he had disclosed to the high court in his constitutional petition.
The Haqiqi chief said that ensuring safety of the citizens and their properties, and free movement is the responsibility of the state, but in Karachi, the state has failed to carry out its responsibilities.
He said that during his detention, he had filed a constitutional petition for ending no-go areas in the city and for providing him full security after his release.
“The division bench of the SHC, headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam, had ordered to immediately end all restricted areas. The bench had also ordered the Sindh government, the provincial inspector general of police, and the director general of the Pakistan Rangers-Sindh to provide full security to me, but due to some political pressures, the provincial government is disobeying the high court’s orders,” he added.
In his petition, Ahmed quoted the letters of the home secretary, in which he was asked to leave Karachi or accept the orders of home detention.
The Haqiqi chief prayed to the court to take action against the respondents and direct the Sindh government as well as the respondents to comply with the high court’s orders.