The victims of the May 12 incident are still awaiting justice 19 years later.

The catastrophe on May 12, 2007, which resulted in 50 martyrs and several injuries, occurred 19 years ago. Victims are still awaiting justice several years after the fatal event. There were no trials or penalties.

The Black Saturday riots, also known as the May 12 riots in Karachi, were a string of violent altercations between opposing political activists.

The city of Karachi saw a carnage on its highways that day as hundreds of people waited for the then-suspended Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, to arrive at the airport in Karachi when the lawyers’ movement was in full swing.

There was a virtual lockdown on the city’s roadways and containers were set up. Those who ventured past the barriers to meet the CJP at the airport were mercilessly shot and killed. The killing went on all day and far into the night.

Attorneys from the City Court, High Court, and Malir Courts encountered great challenges and were unable to leave their offices. In order to escape the region, even judges who came to the courts to perform their duties had to climb and jump over barriers. Terrorism was on the rise, and the thundering noises of the ammunition drowned out the city’s usual activity.

The former CJP established a five-member bigger bench to investigate the event even though they were unable to take suo-moto action over the attack. However, following the attacks, the nation declared an emergency.

The Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) Judges ended the case without taking any significant action, with attorneys spearheading the movement in jails.

The incident has faded into the background over time, but the victims of the tragedy are still pursuing justice, so it will not be erased from history.