Karachi case: SC orders police to arrest 33,000 absconders
Why assets of the absconders were not seized, CJP asked.
KARACHI (Web Desk) - The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday ordered the police to arrest 33,000 fugitives present in Karachi.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, comprising Justices Jawwad S. Khawaja, Khilji Arif Hussain, Amir Hani Muslim and Azmat Saeed heard the case at Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.
During case proceeding, prosecutor general Sindh submited a report on Karachi situation before the bench.
According to the report, there are over 110,000 absconders in Sindh out of which 33,665 are in Karachi. Moreover, there are pending cases of 1,486 absconders in the anti-terrorism court.
Justice Khilji remarked how citizens can remain safe in a city when there are 33,000 absconders present.
The chief justice questioned about the absconders who took advantage of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
The prosecutor general Sindh told the bench that there are total 12,734 accused who availed the NRO.
Justice Jawwad remarked that releasing the accused involved in serious crimes on parole is equivalent to give them the license to commit more crimes
Meanwhile, the chief justice directed that police personnel from other parts of Sindh should be called in for assistance and agencies should be made a part of the mission to arrest the absconders.
