Sindh IG should quit if he feels scared: SC

The Supreme Court (SC) of Karachi observed on Tuesday that no police personal needed any squad and instead the common man should be provided protection by the security forces. This observation was made during the course of hearing of Karachi law and order case in SC Karachi registry. A five-member bench of the SC headed by the justice Anwar Zahir Jamali heard the case.
Sindh Advocate General (AG) Abdul Fateh Malik presented the Sindh government’s report on the law and order situation in Karachi in the court.
Justice Anwar while expressing dissatisfaction over the report remarked that had the report been comprehensive, there would have been no need to hear the case again. He said that the timeframe of 13 months was enough to file a report, but the time was wasted in pleasing everyone who had their stakes in the report. Lawlessness and killing was on rise in the city, he added. Situation of all the areas and provinces was not alike and separate legislations could be made for different areas, he further remarked. The court inquired as to why legislation was not passed for carrying licensed arms in the light of the SC decision. Had the data of all the licenses been recorded by NADRA, then it could have been easily ascertained as to who held 20 licenses.
The Sindh AG said “we are making efforts for the enactment of legislation in this connection as soon as possible.”
Justice Amir Hani Muslim while giving remarks said that when government wanted to enact a law, the job could b completed in one hour’s time.
The AG said that some friends had raised objection as to why such a law should be enacted only for Sindh and not for the entire country.
Justice Khilji Arif while addressing the Sindh IG said “It has become difficult for children to go outdoors. What protection is a common man enjoying? It is the duty of the government to counter criminal activities. The Sindh IG should go outside in his official vehicle without a squad and make a round of the city on a daily basis.” If he felt scared then he should quit his office, he observed. He said that we should think about the agony of the family whose only breadwinner was killed, adding that no police personal needed any squad for protection while the common man was exposed to all kinds of dangers. Squad escorting police officers on the road hurled abuses at the people that created a sense of injustice among the citizens, he said. Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani questioned the existence of vehicles bearing Dubai number plates on the roads, while adding that notices should be issued to all of them because they were not supported by the law.
He further observed that a wall had been erected in the middle of a road leading to Bilawal house. He said that there was no need for extensive security around the place and the road should not have been encircled by barricades.
Had the SC orders been implemented, the situation would have been far better at present, he remarked.
The AG said terrorists were flooding towards Karachi from every part of country. The court observed that it was not clear as to who should be responsible for stemming out terrorists from the city. According to the report submitted by Sindh IG, 1,900 people had been killed in Karachi in the current year. The court remarked that the IG should visit the city alone for four days.
The court expressed annoyance over non-appearance of representatives of Sindh chief secretary and Election Commission before it. Sindh Additional Chief Secretary, Wasim Ahmad told the court that as many as 20 people were apprehended daily for possessing illegal arms but they were later bailed out by the court. The court remarked that this was a bailable offence and new legislation should be put in place instead of blaming the courts.
The additional chief secretary told the court that 90 police officers were martyred in the current year.
The court remarked that it was due to the negligence and incompetence of the department concerned as only poor policemen were being killed in the city.
Justice Amir observed that no high-ranking police officer had been martyred in any violent incidents. He said only assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and inspector level officers were being killed, while adding that 80 percent police officers were non-professional.