News
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
SC orders appointment of ATC judges within 2 days* CJP says conspiracies are being hatched against country
* Directs AG Sindh to make legislation against extortion of money
* Sees political motives behind Karachi unrest
By Asghar Azad
KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday ordered the Sindh government to appoint the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) judges within two days.
A larger bench of the Supreme Court, comprising CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, was hearing the suo motu case regarding the target killings and violence in Karachi.
The CJP said that conspiracies were being hatched against the country, questioning what should be saved, the country or the government.
Justice Jamali raised a question why the judges had still not been appointed despite the recommendation made by the Sindh High Court chief justice.
Sindh Advocate General (AG) Abdul Fatah Malik said that the judges would be appointed in three days upon which the CJP ordered him to complete the task within two days.
The CJP also ordered the Sindh government to appoint judges in ATCs throughout Sindh within two days and submit a report to the court.
“The Karachi issue is being given ethnic colour which is wrong. It is a political issue which should be resolved through effective legislation,” he said.
He said that 306 innocent citizens had been killed in violence and those figures were given by the government. He also directed the AG to make legislation through the provincial assembly against extortion.
Justice Chaudhry said that the names of culprits were disclosed but action was not taken against them. “What is the reason behind it,” he questioned.
The CJP ordered the Sindh government to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 million, including houses, to the families of the policemen assassinated in Chakra Goth incident, besides paying salaries to them till their retirement period.
The AG produced some videos relating to the Karachi violence and target killings, but said that the videos contained objectionable scenes and could not be played in the open court.
“If you (CJP) want, the videos may be played in the chamber as I do not want to hide anything from the court,” the AG said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk