SHC moves Sindh govt on extrajudicial killings

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The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday directed the provincial government to give suggestions for the constitution and mandate of an enquiry commission to probe extrajudicial murders of political workers.

SHC Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar sought a report detailing compensation that will be paid to the legal heirs of the victims from the provincial authorities. He also asked for the procedure laid down for the payment of the same.

The session adjourned until January 28, however, the court directed the chief provincial law officer to show up before court and cautioned authorities that there will be no further adjournments on the matter.

The court has taken up a dozen petitions filed by the families of the victims and MQM leaders, against the extrajudicial killing of political workers.

One of the petitions was filed by the father of a victim along with MQM lawmaker Syed Asif Hasnain. Hasnain submitted that MQM activist Muhammad Suleman alias Salman, along with his nephew Muhammad Noman, was illegally arrested from Malir River on February 3, 2013 and three days later his body was found from Malir River.

He alleged that law enforcers were carrying out extrajudicial killings of workers in the garb of targeted operations.

Another petition was filed by Syed Qamar Abbas Rizvi who sought an inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial killing of his brother Syed Yawar Abbas Rizvi, an activist from MQM.

The petitioner said that Yawar was picked up by LEAs personnel from PIB Colony on November 6, 2013 and later his body was found in Nooriabad area on December 14, 2013.

Earlier on June 11, the court had directed advocate general Sindh to discuss the issue of extrajudicial killings with the chief minister and other higher authorities. This was so they could work out a mechanism to reveal the truth behind the extrajudicial killings and prevent such incidents in the future.