ISI, MQM brief Pak SC on Karachi situation

A day after a top paramilitary officer described the situation in Karachi as worse than terrorism-hit South Waziristan, Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry on Thursday warned that such situations lead to military takeovers.

The comments from the chief justice came during the suo moto hearing by the Supreme Court into the recent violence and bloodshed in Karachi that has led to the killing of around 500 people in July and August.

The violence and killings have been described as the worst ethnic, sectarian and political violence in Pakistan's biggest city and financial hub in 16 years time.

At Thursday's hearing, the CJ and other judges on the five-member bench heard the arguments and statements of the lawyer for the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement -- the largest single party in the city -- and were also given in-camera briefing by the Inter Services Intelligence on the situation in the city.

During the briefing the attorney general and other attorneys were asked to leave.

Geo TV reported that the ISI showed a presentation to the Supreme Court which contained video footage and maps of different areas. The reports of the Joint Investigation Team were also discussed.

Earlier, Choudhry cautioned that worsening law and order situations like the one persisting in Karachi lead to martial law. He, however, said this option had now been closed.