The Sindh Police on Sunday released a six-month performance report of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on the May 12 massacre.
According to the report, more suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in the mass killings, while nine challans were filed in the court by the police.
Karachi Additional Inspector General (AIG) Amir Ahmed Shaikh said that the JIT was constituted under his supervision, and added that East Zone Police sector submitted nine challans and arrested accused person during the last three months.
Shaikh said that most of the suspects belonged to District East of the metropolis, and added that 45 challans had been submitted in the court so far. He said 31 cases, including seven new cases, were currently being heard by the courts, while the total number of cases registered had reached 65.
“Three culprits have been sentenced in May 12 case; however, 19 cases are still unresolved. The JIT has completed its two sessions so far, while the third session will be held on 15th of Ramazan and fourth will be initiated after Eid,” the AIG said. “We have dispatched letters to media houses and other institutions for evidences and footages,” he added. The police chief said that the investigators, working under his supervision, would try to finalise the JIT report within 1.5 months.
On May 12, 2007, at least 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 then deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the Karachi airport ahead of a lawyers’ gathering. Gunfights and clashes erupted across the provincial capital as supporters and opponents of the judge, belonging to different political parties, took to the streets against each other.
City-wide riots escalated on the day despite the fact that several roads and all routes to the airport were blocked to avoid clashes between groups. The violence continued for several days.
Justice Chaudhry was scheduled to speak at a function of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), but was forced to fly back to Islamabad after nine hours of being restricted to the airport. Meanwhile, lawyers across the country observed ‘black day’ to mark the tragic incident of May 12, as the bereaved families of the victims are still waiting for justice.
