Geo Pakistan

 A political party violated article 17: CJ

 KARACHI: The Supreme Court Karachi Registry adjourned hearing of the Karachi violence suo moto case till Thursday, Geo News reported.

The case is being heard by a larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. During proceedings Chief Justice remarked that there was a political party in the country which was guilty of violating article 17 of the constitution and cited it as the reason for prevailing situation.

The Chief Justice further said cases in Karachi fell under terrorism and even extortion fell under this category. On the issue of criminals being set free the Chief Justice observed that killers were being released because there were no witnesses to identify them.

Responding to an argument made by the lawyer for the government Babar Awan regarding the will of the political leadership to end violence in the city, the Chief Justice remarked that will was not enough and the court had to take action. Chief Justice said it was the failure of the government to not protect residents and peoples’ lives and businesses had been destroyed.

During proceedings when the issue of Ajmal Pahari came up the bench remarked that he had received training in Indian and asked what the government had done. To this Awan replied that Pahari was caught in the Iqbal murder case but was set free by the court.

Also during his arguments Babar Awan said that the operation conducted in Karachi during 1994-96 by General Naseerullah Babar was the best solution to the cities problems but it was used as an excuse to remove the government.

Awan is expected to continue his arguments when the hearing resumes on Thursday.