Extortion money collected as right in Karachi: Supreme Court

KARACHI: Supreme Court (SC) is currently hearing suo motu case regarding the lawlessness in Karachi at the premises of Karachi Registry.

A five-strong bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry heard the suo motu case regarding Karachi bloodshed on the second day.
Chief Justice said extortion money (bhatta) was snagged like a right in the city marred by frequent recoveries of mutilated bodies, querying as to how the situation could be made to improve under the circumstances.
Chaudhry said he would hear the case even during Eid holidays if needed, as he would remain present in Karachi, adding, “Karachi is home to all and is city of everyone.”
Giving arguments at the court, Sindh government’s counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzadah stressed there were at least 2.5 million foreigners in the city, consisting among them of Palestinians, Burmese, Bengalis, Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals.
Sindh government’s counsel apprised the court that all foreigners had arms with increased influence in the affairs of the city.
Pirzada maintained the most critical problem of the city was extortionists (bhatta mafia) and drug mafia.
Tension during the Local Bodies elections can turn into ethnic strife in the metropolis, he warned.

Copyright NNI (News Network International), 2011