The Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry on Thursday heard a Suo Moto case on the prevalent law and order situation of Karachi.
A larger bench of the apex court, comprising; Justice Jawad S Khawaja, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Amir Hani Muslim heard the case. During the hearing, Justice Jawad S Khawaja said that Sindh government was neither competent nor taking the matter seriously. He remarked that the Sindh Government has not submitted a para-wise report regarding the implement of the court’s orders.
Advocate General Sindh replied to the bench that a a report presented on Wednesday includes para wise answers to all queries of the SC. Justice Khawaja, then, remarked that it seems as if the authorities are not taking the matter seriously and the court is carrying out a meaningless drill. He said that the report did not include those ‘terrorist’ who are being implicitly supported by the political parties.
Rejecting previous reports of the provincial government on Wednesday, the court sought a comprehensive report from the Sindh IG and chief secretary on the prevalent law and order situation of Karachi in light of its decisions, latest by today. Inspector General Sindh Police Fayyaz Leghari told the bench the police had arrested 3,000 proclaimed offenders and more than 20,000 absconders in Karachi. He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had banned the recruitments of 7,500 police personnel sighting the forthcoming general elections.
Justice Arif Hussain remarked that the police department had confessed in its report that over 22,000 absconding offenders were roaming freely in the city. He added; “how then can the life of a common citizen be saved? How can free elections be ensured under the worst law and order situation? Who should we blame? We see no hope of peace in the city.” He remarked that the provincial government should publish an advertisement stating that people should come out of their homes at their own risk.
Prosecutor General Sindh Shahadat Awan apprised the court that there are 22,535 proclaimed offenders and absconders present in the city.
Justice Khawaja questioned the prosecutor general why the authorities have not taken any action so far to arrest these offenders. The justice remarked that the government is responsible if the citizens’ life and property are not safe.
He directed the police to admit that they are unable to arrest the offenders and criminals. The SC told senior office of Sindh police that both their performances and reports submitted to the SC were unsatisfactory.
