Constitutional writ to be restored in Karachi: CJP

Dunya News

Chief Justice said government machinery should be used to control the situation in Karachi.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that the judiciary does not want to impose emergency by breaching constitution because the nation cannot face its consequences.In his remarks during the hearing of sue moto action taken by Supreme Court on the law and order situation and targeted killings in Karachi CJ said that it is the wish of judiciary that the government machinery should be used to control the situation. He asked IG Sindh that why not any action was taken in the city even after killings of 306 people. He said that IGP should also tell the court that how many torture cells are working in Karachi.The proceedings were started in Karachi Registry of Supreme Court on Tuesday, which is being conducted by a five-member bench under the chairmanship of Chief Justice. The other judges in the bench are Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.Chief Justice said that extortion money is received in Karachi as a right. In these circumstances how the conditions would be improved. He said that constitution would be implemented in Karachi also.He instructed IGP to take action for making the city arms free by saying that without taking the arms from the people , peace could not be restored in the city.During his arguments, lawyer of Sindh government Abdul Hafeez Pirzada told the court that the biggest reason behind Karachi turmoil is that the rangers and police are not being utilized in befitting manner. If they would be assigned properly the state of affairs could be overcome.He said that the first ever conflict between MQM and Pukhtoons took place in the regime of General Zia-ul-Haq. He said that as far as the current wave of violence is concerned, it started on the issue of local government system, and if it is not controlled , they could turn into ethnic clashes. He said that the rate of crime could not be brought down to zero level in the city, however it could be reduced.Pirzada said in his arguments that some 2.5 million foreigners hailed from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Burma are living in Karachi illegally. They have unregistered arms with them in large quantity. They got such a influence that a Burmese immigrant was elected as Councilor .The lawyer of federation Dr Babar Awan requested the court to postponed the hearing till Eid as the lawyer of ANP ,Iftikhar Gilani has celebrated Eid already and remaining people want to go homes at Eid. On which Chief Justice said that Karachi is his city and they are ready to hold hearing even on Eid day for the restoration of peace in Karachi.On the occasion Justice Anwar Jamali said that common man is thinking that he is deprived of the basic rights and if rights would not be given to the people, then Supreme Court would intervene.On Tuesday Karachi Bar Association, Jammat-e-Islami, Sindh Bachao Committee and ANP submitted the applications in the court that they want to become party in the case. During the proceedings ,President Karachi Bar Association Anwar Mansoor requested the bench to transfer the proceedings to Islamabad. On which other lawyers present in the court opposed the suggestion by saying that targeted killings was stopped in the city as CJP is present in the city.