News
Thursday, November 28, 2013
CJP wants Karachi culprits put on trial* Justice Chaudhry says no court can convict any accused without evidence
KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said on Wednesday the Supreme Court (SC) would be satisfied with the performance of authorities concerned only when the culprits arrested during a security operation in Karachi are put on trial.
The CJP presided over a five-member larger bench of SC for the hearing concerning implementation of SC’s decision in Karachi violence case, at Karachi registry of the court.
During the hearing, Karachi police chief Shahid Hayat submitted a report in the court on the Karachi operation.
The CJP remarked that no court could convict any accused without evidence.
“What are the evidence against the detained accused persons?” the court said, adding that performance of authorities would be ineffective without evidence.
“No court can convict any accused without evidence.”
The advocate general (AG) told the court that Sindh government was recruiting 200 investigation officers. The court was told that investigation officers and prosecutors are scared. Prosecutor Abdul Maroof has already been attacked, the AG said.
He told the court that Naimat Ali Randhawa has been killed by culprits for being associated with the Wali Babar case. All the public prosecutors from Karachi are scared, he added.
He also told the court that Naimat Randhawa murder case is being transferred to another province.
The decision to transfer the murder case to another province had been taken during a meeting under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The home of Abdul Maroof has also been attacked upon.
The Sindh government, Rangers and police said in their report that 9,000 persons involved in target killings, terrorism, extortion, kidnappings for ransom and other crimes have been arrested so far during the operation started on September 5.
As many as 2,293 weapons, 115 hand grenades and 222 kilogrammes of explosive material has been recovered from the accused, the report said.
The court was further informed that 1,386 cases were registered on account of keeping weapons illegally, and the Sindh High Court has been requested to constitute five special courts in Karachi to hear these cases.
It was mentioned in the report that 5,996 persons who were found involved in various cases were apprehended during the operation.
As many as 236 people among them were involved in target killings and murder cases, 15 in terrorism incidents, 49 in kidnapping for ransom, 92 in extortion and 2,070 people were nabbed under the relative arms ordinance, according to the report.
The Sindh Home Department told the court through its report that 2,120 persons involved in illegal weapon cases were arrested during the operation.
The AG told the court that the Sindh government has cancelled licences of more than 40 weapon dealers for providing incorrect information to the government.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked, “How can Afghan SIM cards be used in Pakistan?”
The AG told the court that Pakistani companies could not block SIM cards of other countries. The matter of use of foreign SIM cards has been put up before the federal government, the court was told.
Hearing of the case was then adjourned until today (Thursday). agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk