The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the law enforcement agencies’ reports regarding the state of peace in Karachi saying it was ‘like throwing dust into the eyes of judiciary’.

The court extended its deadline to the law enforcer for another week so that they could come back with the concrete results of liberating the areas which were under the control of non-state actors and gangs.The five-member apex court bench resumed its hearing of the Karachi law and order case and reviewed the paramilitary Rangers and Sindh Police reports claiming that they eliminated ‘no-go areas’ in the city.

At the outset of the hearing, Sindh IG Police Shahid Nadeem Baloch and chief secretary submitted their reports. The police report claimed that no no-go area exist in the city anymore. The reports also stated that lack of town planning and growing population are main reasons behind crimes and violence in the city since criminals seek refuge in narrow alleys.

The CJP expressed his displeasure over the police reports and described it as a bid to hoodwink the apex court. He said the SHOs, DSPs and SSPs were directed to file their separate reports but they didn’t; instead, the officials followed an identical format for filling the report.Reprimanding the law enforcers, the chief justice said that their reports were identical in content. “

It seems as if they were authored by one person sitting in his drawing room.” He said, “No-go areas in city are sole reason behind crimes and the objective to eradicate these spots is to ensure safety of people’s lives and properties.” If the no-go areas were finished in the city then the police should be held responsible for every murder committed in the city, the chief justice said. “Mr IG should travel without his convoy, he would know that no-go areas exist or not,” he said, adding that media and lawyers could also be sent to confirm the police claim on no-go area.

Justice Chaudhry observed that if population density was the main problem“why then the crime ratio is low in Delhi and Kolkata despite the fact that they are densely populated cities”. He also said the IDPs who arrived in the city from other provinces “are our brethren”.

During the previous hearing, the court had directed the city administration to improve the law and order situation in the metropolis within 15 days. The court granted another week and ordered the chief secretary of the province, top security official, and the chiefs of rangers and police to eradicate the ‘no-go areas’ in the next seven days.

It was further ordered that the chief secretary must sign the report claiming that such areas were finished as he was the prime responsible for the life and property of the city residents. The bench ordered fresh reports from all 112 police stations in the city to be submitted within 30 minutes’ time.

The CJ said that if the police and Rangers decide to work seriously law and order can be restored. The court directed the heads of the police and Rangers to work together do the job, saying that the life and property of Karachi’s residents should be protected at all costs. The court also ordered the IGP and Sindh Rangers DG to personally lead the crackdown against the criminals.

During the previous hearing, top law enforcement officials had admitted before the court that their men lacked the ‘will’ to combat the growing number of militants and gangsters in the city. This was on account of sluggish follow-up of cases of their colleagues who had been killed by criminals.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the role of Returning Officers (ROs) is of prime importance for conducting elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.Addressing the District Returning Officers (DROs), Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) here on Thursday, he said that the judicial officers have been chosen for this task of national importance, which will prove a paradigm shift in shaping the destiny of our country.

The CJP said the citizens of our country have immense expectations from the judicial officers at this critical juncture when the country is confronted with many crises. “I am sure you will come up to these aspirations and raise the prestige of your institution,” he added.

He said that the voters are one of the most important stakeholders for achieving the object of free and fair elections. Without knowing the qualification of the contesting candidates, they cannot choose their representatives.

He said it is need of the hour for all stakeholders to join hands with the Election Commission of Pakistan for conducting free and fair elections.The CJP said as the process of filling of nomination papers and their scrutiny is under way, “You will have to be mindful of the fact, that voter has right to access to information with reference to the credentials of a candidate for whom he is going to vote.” He said that the nomination papers of the contesting candidates will be made public for their information.

He said the induction of judiciary was meant to ensure that judicial officers will not be influenced by any political pressure, political party or politician. He advised them to discharge their duty with full ability and fearlessly.