SC seeks full report on its orders in Karachi case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the chief secretary and Advocate General Sindh to submit a comprehensive reply by January 22 on implementation of its orders concerning the Karachi law and order situation.

Headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, a three-member bench of the apex court heard a suo moto case concerning the Karachi law and order situation and the Criminal Original Petition of Senator Haji Adeel vs Raja Muhammad Abbas and others. The chief justice observed that the apex court orders had not been implemented in the instant case though one year had passed.

Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed observed that all orders of the apex court in the instant case must be complied with in letter and spirit. “We know how we can implement our orders,” he remarked.

The chief justice asked Advocate General Sindh Malik Fateh Muhammad if the no-go areas had been abolished in the city, and if no recruitment had been made in the police department on political grounds.

The chief justice inquired as to why legislation had not been made to deweaponize the city, the main hub of the economy. He further asked if the police were making any effort to stop the sectarian killings in the city.

The court noted that in its Dec. 14 hearing it had asked the government about a surge in target killings, but no reply was submitted in this regard.

Additional Home Secretary Waseem Ahmed, however, told the court that incidents of extortion had decreased in the city. On this, the chief justice asked the people from Karachi, sitting in the courtroom, if Mr. Waseem’s claim was true. Majority of the people replied in the negative.

Malik Fateh Muhammad told the court that about 254 police personnel had lost their lives in Karachi operation out of which the heirs of 240 policemen had got compensation. Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed asked if any criminal had been arrested by the police to which the advocate general could not give a satisfactory answer.

Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi, who had sought the court’s permission to become a party to the instant case, told the court that one Waseem ‘Beater’, who got out-of-turn promotion, ran a gambling den at the police station concerned and was considered the don of extortionists in the city. He alleged that ‘Beater’ paid huge amounts of extortion money to his bosses to induct his favorites into the police department.

Naqvi further alleged that Wassem ‘Beater’ was also involved in the smuggling of Iranian oil. When the court asked the police officials about Waseem ‘Beater’, they said they knew nothing about him.

DIG Hyderabad Sanaullah Abbassi and DIG Crime Circle Bashir Memon, however, confirmed that Waseem ‘Beater’ was a very influential person and was running a gambling den at the police station. They said Beder must be brought to justice in accordance with the law.

IGP Sindh Fayyaz Leghari told the court that Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi had contacted him, requesting for posting one Ali Raza as SHO. Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi quickly denied the allegation.

Naqvi told the court that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was just a figurehead and his powers rested with Awais Tappi, a close relative of Hakim Ali Zardari, and Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, who issued directions to the chief minister.

He further told the court that Awais Tappi was involved in illegal matters in the Revenue Department. He further alleged that Tappi was also involved in the posting of a DSP to the Darakhshan Police Station in Shahzeb Khan case. He said the DSP was earlier working in the Excise and Taxation Department.

The chief justice asked Additional Home Secretary Waseem Ahmed if Mr. Naqvi’s claims were true. The secretary replied in the affirmative. The Chief Justice said if this was true, then how could they claim that appointments on political basis had come to an end.

Naqvi told the court that if he was targeted by anyone, all the police officials present in the courtroom would be responsible. The court directed to provide ample security for Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi and adjourned the hearing for Jan. 22.

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