KARACHI - In the Karachi law and order case verdict issued by the Supreme Court on Friday, the court said that federal government’s lack of interest was the reason behind the situation in the city.

A bench of the apex court headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja resumed the hearing of the case at SC’s Karachi registry.
The judgement reads that none of the apex court’s earlier orders had been implemented. “The federal government in particular did nothing to gain control over the law and order situation in Karachi.”
It states that no action was taken against illegal immigrants in the city, citing a Sindh High Court report that approximately 400 police officials were involved in stoking the violence. “No action had been taken against them.”
The six-page order reads: “The government had not taken any measures to ensure security for the business community in the city.”
The court directed the Sindh advocate general to submit a report next week in the court about the economic activities in the port city. The order states that witnesses in Karachi killings were not being provided protection. The apex court summoned the director general of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to appear in the court on next hearing to inform the court about the illegal immigrants.
During the hearing Justice Khilji Arif Hussain remarked that the public did not have confidence in the police as it was politically inclined. Sindh Police Inspector General (IG) Fayyaz Leghari said that Rs10 million had been allotted for ensuring witness protection.
Justice Khilji inquired how the police could protect the witnesses when it could not protect its own personnel. He said that numerous businessmen had closed their businesses because police failed to do its job.
Over the targeting of police in bomb attacks, Justice Khilji questioned the performance of intelligence agencies.
The counsel for the IG said that 127 police personnel had lost lives in the line of duty and suspects had been identified in 35 cases. He also said that five suspects had been killed in shootouts and challans had been submitted in 69 cases.
The counsel told the bench that 182 target killers had been arrested, among those were the members of outlawed organisations, which could be a possible reason for the surge in attacks on the police.
Justice Khawaja said that there were 1.4 million immigrants in Karachi. He inquired about the number of illegal immigrants who had returned to their native country and how Nadra could identify the unregistered immigrants.
The counsel for the IG Sindh informed the court that federal government had extended the stay of 1.25 million immigrantsfor six months.
The hearing was adjourned until on February 25.