KARACHI: Sindh High Court on Tuesday ordered formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe May 12 riots in Karachi, ARY News reported.
According to ARY News correspondent, the SHC bench hearing the case also ordered formation of a judicial tribunal for investigation into the hours-long riots on the day, which claimed scores of lives.
On May 12, 2007, around 50 people were killed and over 100 wounded in attacks on rallies of different political parties and the legal fraternity, who had attempted to receive the then deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the Karachi airport ahead of a lawyers’ gathering.
Justice Chaudhry was forced to fly back to Islamabad after nine hours being restricted to the airport.
The two-member bench, comprising Justice Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice KK Agha, today sought a report from the Sindh government over payment of compensation to the families of dead and wounded victims of the deadly riots.
On May 12, 2007 a major portion of Karachi’s main artery, Shahra-e-Faisal, turned into a battlefield when rival political groups clashed with each other soon after the arrival of the then chief justice of Pakistan deposed by the military regime of Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
Petitioner Iqbal Kazmi in his plea requested a judicial inquiry into the bloodshed.
The petitioner had nominated former president Pervez Musharraf, London based founder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), then home minister of Sindh incumbent Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar in the events that unfolded in the port city on that fateful day.
