News
Friday, September 09, 2011
All political parties have armed groups: CJP* Justice Iftikhar expresses distrust over Sindh AG’s report on 1992 operation
By Asghar Azad
KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday remark that “all the political parties have formed armed groups and the current situation is very critical”.
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 further said, “If the criminal factor is eliminated from political parties, a peaceful atmosphere can be restored across Sindh, especially in Karachi.” It is the responsibility of the citizens to maintain law and order in the city, he said.
All political parties were works for increasing their power only, he said.
The CJP asked the counsel for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Frogh Naseem, “Are only the Urdu-speaking innocent amongst Sindhis, Punjabis, Balochis and Saraikis.” The CJP also questioned why the MQM mentioned only its workers and supporters who had been killed during the violence. As the court started the proceedings, Sindh Advocate General (AG) Abdul Fatah Malik submitted a report of 1992 military operation, which was launched to stop bloodshed in Karachi.
The CJP expressed his distrust on the report and said, “This is not a report but a list of the people and the police officers who were killed in the Karachi.” The CJP handed over a copy to Iqbal Hyder, who also disagreed with the report.
The CJP asked the MQM counsel, “Do you have any proposal to resolve the matter,” adding that what was the method by which agencies could conduct investigation free of any political influence. During the hearing, the MQM counsel also accused the Awami National Party (ANP) and Lyari gang members of involvement in kidnappings and killings incidents. He said that more than 36 people had been killed and their houses were torched in Pashtun-dominated areas on August 13. He argued that the MQM had indicated 26 points in the city where there was a dire need of setting up checkposts.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk