With the Supreme Court of Pakistan giving firm orders to the Sindh government to arrest all 35 prisoners released on parole, the provincial government as well as the police are in a catch-22 situation. Since these criminals are suspected of having carried out serious offences like target killings, kidnapping for ransom, etc, it is perturbing that anyone could have the temerity to set them free.
The provincial government has answered the court that these criminals were released during Musharraf’s tenure. Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who was the chief minister at the time, has explained to the court that some of the criminals were in fact released when he was the CM. He made a shocking statement that a top member of the ruling elite was also one of them and that several others were also released at his behest. This compounds the case; yet it should not, however, prevent the authorities to go after the criminals wanted in target killings and violence. The entire case throws light on how dangerous bandits are arrested, only later to be let off when political bosses pull up a few strings.
It also brings home in absolute terms the heavy politicisation of the police force as one of the major reasons for the city’s deteriorating law and order. This culture has to end, if peace is to be restored. For a good beginning, these 35 culprits must be thrown back in jail cell and put on trial. With the growing number of killings, now averaging between 5 to 10 each day, something concrete needs to be done.