KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed the law enforcement agencies to recover the illegal arms at all cost, even if they will have to impose curfew in Karachi.
A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justices Jawwad S. Khawaja, Khilji Arif Hussain, Amir Hani Muslim and Azmat Saeed resumed hearing of Karachi law-and-order suo motu implementation case at Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry on Thursday.
During today’s hearing, the government officials submitted reports pertaining to progress into the investigation of various cases.
The court was informed by Advocate General Sindh Shahadat Awan that mobile phone companies have been directed to block unregistered SIMS and the process of blocking the SIMs was already underway since last night.
In his remarks over the Advocate General’s statement, Justice Jawad S.Khwaja said how is this possible for a person to posses 50 SIMs at a time? Does any law prevent it?
The Advocate General informed the court that law and order situation in the city has improved after the targeted action against criminals by Rangers and Police.
The Sindh Chief Secretary submitted a report before the bench regarding ongoing action against the criminals. It is said in the report that over 1000 criminals including target killers‚ extortionists and those involved in heinous crimes have been arrested.
The Chief Justice said that police officers who took part in Karachi operations of 1992 and 1996 were killed one by one.
“The IG police should tell the court where are their killers? In this situation, no one comes forward to be a witness. The murder of witnesses is not possible without the nexus of police and influential people.”
The Chief Justice in his remarks said in spite of clear orders by the court, Sindh government could not arrest the killers of journalist Wali Khan Babar. Instead the witnesses of his murder were killed one by one.
The Chief Justice scolded the IG Sindh and said “for God’s sake! Do something to save the country. Only the cosmetic measures are taken so far.” He said that arms are pouring into Karachi from India, Israel and Russia.
He said that the law enforcers should recover the illegal arms at all cost, even if they will have to impose curfew in the city.
The Chief Justice hailed Sindh Assembly’s legislation of the protection of witnesses.
Meanwhile, the court ordered to public a report prepared by a senior customs official Ramzan Bhatti regarding smuggling of arms and ammunition as well as evasion of duty on different items at Karachi port.
The report said that there are 39 possible sea routes through which a launch/boat can be used for smuggling while seven of these routes are totally unguarded.
It said that intelligence officials have denied the smuggling through sea route.
On 30th August, Director General, Sindh Rangers, had told the court that the issue of missing 19,000 arms containers came to limelight many years ago. He said the missing containers were opened during the tenure of the former minister for ports and shipping.
Babar Ghouri had requested the court he be allowed to a become party in the case after the report accused him of connivance in the alleged arms smuggling issue.
The hearing was later adjourned till tomorrow (Friday).
