Suspended Pak CJ arrives in Karachi amid violence and tight security

Violence and sporadic incidents of disturbance hit the streets of Karachi in the forenoon, as suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry arrived in the city to address the Sindh High Court Bar Association.

Karachi, May 12 : Violence and sporadic incidents of disturbance hit the streets of Karachi in the forenoon, as suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry arrived in the city to address the Sindh High Court Bar Association.

Chaudhry, however, stayed inside the Karachi Airport Lounge and the sources said that he has rejected a Government offer to reach the Sindh High Court by an special plane in the wake of the violence brought on by an exchange of fire between the activists of rival parties in Shahra-e-Faisal and Malir.

Local police said that many people were injured and several vehicles were torched as a result of violence.

They confirmed that over 16 vehicles including motorcycles, were torched and at least seven people were injured in the exchange of fire.

A small number of Karachi city lawyers managed to reach the airport to welcome Chaudhry, who is in the city to address the concluding ceremony of the Supreme Court's 50th anniversary.

Barrister Aitzaz Hassan and some other leaders of bar councils are accompanying him.

Some advocates told The News that they could not reach the airport as all the main roads were closed by the administration as part of a security drill put in place for Chaudhry's visit.According to advocate leaders, Chaudhry will stay in the lounge at the airport till all the main routes leading to Sindh High Court are cleared.

The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court (SHC), Justice Sabihuddin has taken suo moto notice of the Karachi situation and directed the administration to open all the main roads of the city.

He also sought an explanation from Sindh Home Secretary and police officials about the prevailing situation in Karachi.

Due to the security measures, passengers arriving at the Jinnah Terminal through foreign and domestic flights are stranded.

The administration has blocked the roads and streets by putting buses, trucks and trawlers there and punctured their tyres so that they cannot be taken away.

The departure of various domestic and international flights has also been delayed .All the PIA flights of today would depart from Karachi for various destinations but they are late because the PIA staff could not reach in time to join their duty at the airport due to closure of various routes of Karachi, said PIA spokesman Nasir Jamal.

The schedule for the departure of PIA flights from Karachi has been changed.

However, arrival of the PIA flights from various destinations would be as per schedule

Sindh Home Minister Waseem Akhtar has said that the provincial government has made all necessary arrangements for the security of Justice Chaudhry during his visit to the metropolis.

Akhtar said, the home ministry was not informed about the route of the CJ during the visit.

Meanwhile, a huge stage of 50x16 sq ft has been set up in the middle of SHC building staircase, while seating arrangements have been made for over 8,000 participants in three arteries running along the court compound.

Around 8,000 chairs have been arranged for lawyers, while rest of the seating arrangements have been made for sitting and retired judges of superior courts and judicial officers of the province.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that nobody would be allowed to create law and order situation and the stern action would be taken against those who will take the law into their hands.

Sherpao told reporters that he has directed the concerned authorities to ensure the security of Chaudhry during his visit to the city.

ANI