 |
| Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar M. Chaudhary |
During the proceeding, the chief justice remarked that government officials had their jobs and respect because of Pakistan, adding it was a mystery that why they did not love their country. The CJ said they would salute the police officers who would take action against the criminals.
“A lot of time has already been wasted and now the time has come to take corrective measures for improving the law and order situation in Karachi”, he remarked. The court had directed the IG police and the DG Rangers to take action against the criminals indiscriminately, the CJ said. “Terrorists are not stronger than the Rangers. Why does the government not use Rangers for bringing the circumstance under control? Has any initiative been taken to purge police of political elements? Why are the political parties not asked to abolish terrorist wings from their ranks?”, the chief justice asked.
Sindh Advocate General Fateh Malik pleaded that some time was required for doing the needful. On this, the CJ said:
“Some 20 years have already passed and how much time they further needed? Do you want the killings in Karachi to continue for five years? We are again warning that you have very short time.”
The advocate general said the history of Karachi illustrated that during the rule of civilian governments violence increased in the city and vice versa during the military regimes. Malik argued that during the governments of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, thousands of people lost their lives in the city and the situation improved once General Musharraf came into power.
During the proceedings, Justice Ghulam Rabbani asked: “Have you identified the armed groups against whom you are going to take action?”
During the proceedings, Justice Ghulam Rabbani asked: “Have you identified the armed groups against whom you are going to take action?”
Meanwhile, the chief justice remarked:
“Why are the Rangers not being given powers on permanent basis? What do you expect from the police when it lacks the infrastructure?”
The CJ said the civilian government must be stronger than the military regime, adding, “the time has come to call the spade a spade”. He also asked the government to submit a written statement that it would not support the armed terrorists. The police officers were suffering from fear and terror as 92 cops had already been murdered, the CJ further said. During his remarks, Justice Sarmad Jalal said all the people here were acting on agenda as to how they should grab the land.
During his arguments, Attorney General Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq said the court had to find out whether it were political parties or the state which violated the law and how this could be dealt with. He admitted the police had not taken action against terrorists. To a question posed by Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, the attorney general said since the Supreme Court had taken notice, the situation in the city had improved and there was no need to call in the army.
In his arguments, Babar Awan, the lawyer for the federation, said the province’s executive authority covers 23 districts and the suo moto was based on one district only. Awan added the executive was not a failure at the federal or provincial level as the situation in Karachi was due to the internal unrest. Further proceeding of the case was adjourned till Wednesday (today) and Babar Awan will continue his arguments.
No comments:
Post a Comment