News
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
SC orders police to fix Karachi irrespective of political issuesKARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, during the hearing of Karachi law and order case, asked police to establish the writ of state in the city without caring for political issues.
The court hailed the law enforcement agencies for their anti-criminal action in the city. Sindh Police Additional Inspector General Shahid Hayat appeared before a bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry and submitted a report on the police crackdown against the outlaws. The Karachi police chief stated that targeted operations were being carried out in the city in order to curb violence and street crime. He told the court that over 5,000 cases have been registered since the police operation began.
Sindh advocate general (AG) apprised the court that a campaign was launched in the city to recover illegal arms and as a result of it peace has returned to the city. He described the ongoing violence in Lyari as an armed clash between two criminal gangs and said that a gradual progress was being made in enforcing the Article 9 of the Constitution. The chief justice appreciated police and Rangers actions in Karachi, however, he said that Sindh government’s claims stand in sharp contrast to media reports. “What’s going on in Lyari? Is it still a no-go area? Are the citizens in Lyari enjoying rights under Article 9? What steps were taken to get rid of illegal arms?” the chief justice enquired from the Sindh AG.
Hayat told the Supreme Court that that some no-go areas exist in the metropolis, adding there were political issues in different areas of the city. “People of one group are faced with difficulties in entering some areas,” he said. The chief justice directed the police to establish the writ of state without indulging in political problems. He issued notices to chief secretary, IG and DG Rangers and asked them to appear before the court on October 31.
Chief Justice Iftikhar said if the flow of smuggled arms and narcotics is restricted throughout Karachi, situation in the city would be normalised. He said the law enforcement agencies have started to realise their responsibility. After going through the reports submitted by Rangers and police regarding the clampdown against the outlaws, one member of the bench asked the counsel appearing on behalf of Rangers whether arrested criminals were being put on trial in the courts. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk