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KARACHI - The Sindh High Court (SHC) on
Wednesday directed the interior secretary, home
secretary and Sindh inspector general of police (IGP)
to submit detailed reports on targeted killings at a
date to be fixed later. A division bench headed by
Chief Justice Mushir Alam was hearing a
constitutional petition filed by Human Rights
Commission South Asia (HRCSA) representative Iqbal
Kazmi, seeking to end targeted killings in Karachi.
On behalf of the Pakistan Rangers Sindh director
general (DG), a Rangers inspector appeared before
the court and submitted a report, which, mentioning
a notification issued by the Sindh government in
1995, said that the Rangers have been providing back
up to the police in maintaining law and order.
HRCSA’s Kazmi had previously submitted that despite
being directed several times by the court, the
respondents have yet to submit their reports on the
ongoing targeted killings.
He pleaded the court for taking strict measures and
directing the respondents to submit their reports in
this regard. He submitted that some 54 people were
killed in June last year. “The government has failed
to provide protection to the citizens as targeted
killings claimed 445 lives from January 2009 to June
2009 in different parts of the city,” he added.
He cited the interior secretary, home secretary,
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) DG, Intelligence
Bureau DG, Sindh chief secretary, Pakistan Rangers
Sindh DG, Sindh IGP, Karachi Capital City Police
officer, Anti-Violent Crime Cell, Muttahida Qaumi
Movement Member of the Provincial Assembly Raza
Haroon, Awami National Party Sindh president and
others as respondents.
He implored the court for ordering the respondents
to submit in court entire records of targeted
killings, and issuing orders to arrest all the
elements involved in the incidents. He also asked
for providing protection to the citizens and launch
perations across the city against illegal weapons.
On Wednesday, the court directed the respondents to
submit their reports, and adjourned the hearing
until the next date to be set later by the court.
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