Karachi violence: SC orders appointment of ATC judges within 2 days

 KARACHI: The Supreme Court Karachi Registry resumed hearing of the Karachi violence suo moto case on Tuesday, Geo News reported. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry ordered Advocate General Sindh to issue orders to appoint judges for Anti Terrorism and Banking courts within two days. The bench noted the shortage of judges in Sindh province.

A five-member special bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, Justice Amer Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani is hearing the case. Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali asked why judges were not appointed even after the recommendations by the Chief Justice Sindh High Court in 2009 and 2011.

Earlier during proceedings, Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that the report of the joint investigation team on Ajmal Pahari raised questions about national sovereignty.

The Chief Justice asked the Advocate General and IG Sindh if they had read this report and if the country or government should be saved. The Chief Justice asked IG Sindh what measures he had taken after this report, since it contained information regarding the organization Pahari was affiliated with.

During his remarks the Chief Justice also said Karachi was the economic hub of Pakistan and the country could not progress unless the city was secure.

Justice Gulam Rabbani remarked that if no action was to be taken, then why were joint investigation teams formed? The chief justice asked IG Sindh if Kamran alias Maduhri was arrested in connection with the firing on police in Charka Goth, or had he been released. The IG replied that he was arrested, to which Justice Amir Hani Muslim asked if his charge sheet had been presented in the court. IG Sindh informed the court that Kamran was injured and thus could not be presented to which Justice Amir Hani Muslim replied that he should be presented with a medical certificate.

Also during proceedings SCBA President Asma Jehangir said the MQM had started extortion in Karachi and other parties had followed suit.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday.