ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Taking notice of the murder of 20-year-old Shahzeb Khan in Karachi, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the advocate-general of Sindh and the provincial police chief and summoned a report on the case on Friday. On a note initiated by the court office, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed the advocate general and the IGP to appear before the court in person and submit a report suggesting whether an FIR of the case had been registered and the suspects involved arrested. If not, what were the reasons and who was responsible for the same, the order issued by the chief justice said.

The note said that Khan was gunned down a week ago, but police failed to make any progress due to immense political pressure, adding the killing had mobilised hundreds of people who gathered outside the Karachi Press Club carrying banners and requesting the chief justice to take a suo motu action.

The chief justice ordered that the office note be treated as a petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution as it involved violation of fundamental rights envisaged under Article 9.

Besides, the order said, a large number of citizens were feeling insecure because of influential people who were allegedly involved in the commission of crimes. And since the culprits were reported to have political connection, no action as provided under the law appeared to have been taken by the law-enforcement agencies, it said.

The case will be taken up on Jan 4.