The Supreme Court Karachi Registry adjourned hearing of the Karachi suo motu case till today (Thursday).
During Wednesday’s proceedings, DG Rangers Major General Ijaz
Chaudhry informed the court that militant groups of political and
ethnic parties were involved in the violence in the city. He added that
the situation in Karachi was worse than North Waziristan Agency and a
military solution was only temporary but the issue could be resolved
through political means.
A five-member special bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Sarmad
Jalal Usmani, Justice Amer Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani heard
the suo motu notice regarding the target killing incidents of Karachi
here on Wednesday.
The DG Rangers requested that police powers given to the Rangers should last until peace is restored in the city.
Earlier during proceedings, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawyer, Abdul Qadir
Jatoi informed the court that the killing in Karachi was being done
under the guidance of political parties in order to influence the
senate elections. Jatoi added that Zulfiqar Mirza had made important
disclosures and was an important witness in the case.
The Chief Justice remarked that if Zulfiqar Mirza said something
then his affidavit should be presented in court and a petition should
be filed. He further said that it was not the job of the court to
record statements of witnesses and for this a separate petition had to
be filed.
“Why should we call Zulfiqar Mirza, if he has something to say he
should record his sworn statement” Chief Justice said. A CD of Zulfiqar
Mirza was also presented by the JI lawyer.
The chief of Awami Tehreek, Rasul Bux Palejo said the present
government was a dummy and only wanted to collect tax “the real power
is with the US”.
He added that everyone knew that the MQM was behind the violence but
no one was willing to take their name and even certain judges were
scared.
The MQM also submitted a petition to become a party in the case. The
lawyer for the party said that a list of people beheaded during the
violence had been submitted and 230 MQM activists had been killed since
2008.
The Attorney General informed the court that the ISI is intended to
brief the Supreme Court regarding the Karachi situation upon which
chief justice asked where that ISI would brief the court the AG replied
that the ISI will give briefing to the Chief Justice at his chamber.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in his remarks during the hearing
said that the Rangers were given powers after killing of more than 300
people in the city. “When the civil agencies exist and the Rangers and
Police can deliver than why looking to someone else?”, the Chief
Justice said. SANA
