The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred a petition filed by Mohajir Qaumi Movement Haqiqi (MQM-H) chief Afaq Ahmad seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the government for not removing no-go areas from Karachi despite court orders, to the Sindh High Court chief justice, saying it was non-maintainable.
A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that the court had not delivered its final judgement in the Karachi targeted killing case, therefore contempt of court proceedings could not be initiated in the matter.
The court held that the petitioner could approach the Sindh High Court chief justice as he was monitoring the case initiated by the SC. The court, however, said if the petitioner was not satisfied, he could approach the SC again. Upon this, Afaq said he had no objection over it.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters after the hearing of the case, Afaq said the government had still not removed the no-go areas in Karachi and no political opponent could move in those areas. He said everything was being done under the supervision of the government and one political party.
He said despite the fact that law and order in Karachi was better now, the Sindh home minister had suggested him to shift to Lahore. He said the authorities concerned were not proceeding against the political party, which was involved in terrorist activities. He said the MQM had gotten the public’s mandate on gunpoint and the terrorists were moving freely everywhere. He said the files of NRO cases against the party’s people had still not been reopened.
