Updated on
Summary
The legal fraternity is observing a black day against the killing of more than 55 people in the violence that seized the city of Karachi on May 12, 2007. Despite the passage of three years, the May 12, 2007 carnage is yet to be investigated properly. The carnage and mayhem brings to our memory how Karachi, with more than one hundred thousand strong police force and Rangers, was meticulously handed over to murderers who killed 55 innocent people and injured hundreds. Lawyers bodies including Sindh Bar Council (SBC), Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), Karachi Bar Association (KBA) and Malir Bar Association are observing a strike today to commemorate the Karachi mayhem and would not appear in courts, including Sindh High Court (SHC) and lower courts. More than fifty political workers were killed and over hundred injured in armed attacks on rallies arranged to welcome then deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who was scheduled to arrive in the city to address the lawyers community at the SHC and Karachi Bar gathering. By May 12, 2007 morning, all roads leading to the airport and the courts were blocked by trucks, water-tankers, containers and other barricades; meanwhile unidentified gunmen held the city hostage and shot various political parties workers going to welcome CJ Chaudhry. Meanwhile, former President Supreme Court Bar Aitzaz Ahsan said that Pervez Musharraf has no courage to return Pakistan to face charges of May 12 carnage. Talking to media in Islamabad Aitzaz said that the PPP and ANP are both in power but failed to arrest the perpetrators of May 12 mayhem. Aitzaz said that Musharraf has no courage to return Pakistan to face charges of assassination of Akbar Bugti, May 12 carnage in Karachi and other incidents.
