Suo motu on Karachi violence: Almost 5000 people killed in two years, says IG - The Express Tribune

According to Baloch, 1,023 of these victims fell prey to senseless targeted killings, 206 were killed on political basis, 225 on sectarian basis, 353 for ethnic differences and 239 were personnel of law enforcing agencies. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

A total of 4,952 people – 4,521 in the year 2011 and 3,924 in the year 2012 – were killed in the city between August 24, 2011, and August 27, 2013.

The police have, however, registered only 1,455 of these cases, Sindh IGP Shahid Nadeem Baloch told the Supreme Court larger bench on Friday. The apex court judges were hearing the Karachi law and order suo motu case at the SC Karachi registry.

According to Baloch, 1,023 of these victims fell prey to senseless targeted killings, 206 were killed on political basis, 225 on sectarian basis, 353 for ethnic differences and 239 were personnel of law enforcing agencies.

Perhaps due to the staggering death toll, the federal government also assured that it has decided to rather sit in Karachi to take 'important decisions' to maintain the law and order situation on the third day of the hearing. The federal cabinet would meet on September 3 to ensure the enforcement of the citizens' fundamental rights under the Constitution, said the attorney general Munir A. Malik.

Headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry the larger bench postponed the hearing of the case till September 18, directing the attorney general and the advocate general to submit their reports.

CJ Chaudhry asked Baloch about the number of CCTV cameras that are installed and functioning in the city, to which Baloch replied there were only 650 cameras and some of them do not work. Chief secretary Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry said 1,600 CCTV cameras were to be installed but the project could not be completed. The bench came hard on the secretary who was not aware of the actual number of operational cameras in the city. "Neither the IG nor the chief secretary is aware," he said. "Should we call the chief secretary of Balochistan?"

AG Khalid Jawed said that the Sindh government had passed the new arms law in January this year, adding the National Database Registration Authority is going to start issuing computerised arms licences from today (Saturday). The judges questioned why NADRA had taken seven months. "There is no degree of urgency," noted Justice Jawwad S Khawaja.

CJ Chaudhry again turned to the chief secretary to demand why the CCTV cameras project was delayed. "Is there any justification for the blood that is being shed on the streets," he asked. The advocate general said the Sindh government has decided to fix the tenure of an SHO to a minimum of six months to one year, adding the government would also send a list of competent officers to the federal government for their appointment.

The bench observed that the federal and provincial governments have resolved to ensure protection to the life and liberty of the residents of Karachi. "We will not be encroaching upon its (government's) areas," he clarified.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2013.