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Pak court orders action on Karachi violence
The Supreme Court of Pakistan said criminal gangs with political backing were responsible for the violence.
Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan
on Thursday said criminal gangs with political backing were
responsible for the violence and target killings in the
country`s financial capital and asked the government to take
stern action to eliminate their dens.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while announcing the verdict criticised the provincial Sindh government for failing to take effective measures against target killings and extortion in Karachi which is the financial hub of Pakistan.
The CJP Chief took a suo motu notice on the appeal of Allama Tahirul Qadri, the head of the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran, in a bid to improve the law and order conditions in the city, where more than 1,000 people have been killed this year. Quoting intelligence reports Chaudhry noted that the main reason for the violence and target killings in the city was the presence of criminal gangs in all political parties.
He said that these criminal gangs had political backing and were involved in extortion racket with impunity.
The court said that banned outfits including Sunni Tehreek are involved in extortion, while there are allegations of the same offence against parties such as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP) and MQM are also involved in this racket.
The CJP in his remarks also quoted the Inspector General of Police of Sindh as saying that the police force was demoralised mainly because of the fact that 40 per cent of the police officials had been recruited on political grounds who are reluctant to act decisively.
PTI
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while announcing the verdict criticised the provincial Sindh government for failing to take effective measures against target killings and extortion in Karachi which is the financial hub of Pakistan.
The CJP Chief took a suo motu notice on the appeal of Allama Tahirul Qadri, the head of the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran, in a bid to improve the law and order conditions in the city, where more than 1,000 people have been killed this year. Quoting intelligence reports Chaudhry noted that the main reason for the violence and target killings in the city was the presence of criminal gangs in all political parties.
He said that these criminal gangs had political backing and were involved in extortion racket with impunity.
The court said that banned outfits including Sunni Tehreek are involved in extortion, while there are allegations of the same offence against parties such as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP) and MQM are also involved in this racket.
The CJP in his remarks also quoted the Inspector General of Police of Sindh as saying that the police force was demoralised mainly because of the fact that 40 per cent of the police officials had been recruited on political grounds who are reluctant to act decisively.
PTI