MONITORING DESK KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on
Thursday resumed hearing Karachi unrest case where the Chief Secretary
Sindh has submitted a report pertaining to the steps taken to restore
peace in the business hub, Local TV reported.
A five-bench larger bench of the SC headed by the Chief Justice of
Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is hearing the case today.
Inspector General Sindh, Additional Inspector General Sindh, Director
General of Sindh Rangers and Chief Secretary Sindh are also present in
the hearing.
According to the report submitted by the Chief Secretary on behalf of
the provincial government, Rangers are conducting the targeted
operation in Karachi, however, the Sindh government is monitoring the
action. Moreover, Rangers have been given control of one police
station in five districts of the city.
The report further revealed that 1,357 accused involved in target
killings, extortion and other crimes were arrested from September 5 to
16. While addressing the issue of weapon smuggling, the report stated
that the Customs and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) lack coordination
to control the situation, however, instructions to improve the
coordination among the departments have been issued during a high
level meeting.
In the last hearing, the apex court had appointed former Customs
member Ramzan Bhatti to constitute a one-man fact-finding commission
to look into the report with regard to smuggling of illegal arms into
the country in shipping containers. The SC had ordered him to submit
his report in seven days.
Sources told that Ramzan Bhatti has also submitted his report in this regard.
The SC, on Tuesday, had issued notices to the concerned parties
including Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Senator Babar Khan Ghauri.
The concerned parties include Chief Secretary Sindh, Inspector General
Sindh, Director General Sindh Rangers and Additional Chief Secretary.
Also, MQM leader Babar Ghauri was notified on his request to become
party in the case.
Babar Ghauri was of the view that DG Sindh Rangers should either prove
his allegations or withdraw his statement by appearing in person in
the court.
The authorities of Customs, Coast Guard and Maritime Security Agency
had also been served with a notice to appear in today's hearing.
The SC was scheduled to hear the Karachi law and order case on
September 18 at the Karachi Registry, however, the proceedings were
then set on September 19 due to change in the court's schedule.
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