The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday sought comments from the federal and provincial authorities on a constitutional petition seeking the formation of a larger bench to rehear the 12 May 2007 mayhem case.
The SHC bench headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh was hearing the petition filed by Syed Iqbal Kazmi, who had moved the court pleading it to constitute a larger bench to re-inquire the 12 May riots that claimed the lives of over 50 people.
The bench also issued a notice to the Sindh Inspector General of Police for failing to provide security to the petitioner in compliance with its earlier order.
The petitioner has cited the former interior secretary, Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, then home adviser now a Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, former home secretary Ghulam Mohammad Mohtram, former director-general Sindh Rangers, and others as respondents.
Kazmi stated that the provincial authorities had failed to provide security to the former CJP during his visit and violated the court order regarding security, which led to the riots. The petitioner alleged that MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Waseem Akhtar and others were responsible for the killing of over 50 people during the riots.
“The lawyers, gathered at the premises of courts, were manhandled by the mobs. The government failed to protect the life, liberty, freedom of movement, and other fundamental rights of the citizens on that day,” the petitioner added.
More than 50 people were killed and over 100 vehicles set ablaze in the city on 12 May 2007 during the visit of the then suspended Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry. The ex CJP had remained stranded at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport for several hours and left the city without addressing lawyers and other supporters who had gathered to welcome him.