Policemen escort arrested hand-cuffed paramilitary soldiers to an anti-terrorism court in Karachi.—AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court directed an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi on Wednesday to expedite the trial involving the cold-blooded killing of a young man by Rangers personnel at a park on June 9.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Amir Hani Muslim that had taken notice of the killing of Sarfaraz Shah also asked the ATC to conduct the trial in a transparent manner and submit a compliance report to the apex court in two weeks.

Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Mazhar Chaudhry sought one month's time for submission of the report, saying the special court had yet to complete the trial. The court rejected the request and said that giving further time would amount to injustice.

On June 10, a larger bench of the apex court had set a three-day deadline for the removal of Sindh Rangers' Director General Maj-Gen Ejaz Chaudhry and Inspector General of Sindh Police Fayyaz Leghari with an observation that such incidents increased hatred against security forces.

The chief justice had deplored that the appointment of incompetent officials led to poor administration. The bench had ordered the Accountant General of Pakistan to withhold salary of the two officials if the court orders were not implemented.

The government complied with the court orders and removed the Rangers DG and Sindh IG.

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...