Balochistan cauldron: SC to give final ruling today

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court decided to give a final ruling in Balochistan targeted killing case today (Wednesday).

 A three-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed annoyance over both governments for not paying heed towards highly precarious law and order situation of Balochistan. During the course of proceedings, the bench asked top legal officer of Balochistan whether missing persons had been recovered? He, however, told the court that no progress had been made in that regard.

The Chief Justice observed that a similar response was received on every hearing in past as court’s orders were not being implemented. The Chief Justice remarked law and order situation in the province was worsening day by day as Army, Frontiers Corps (FC) and police had done nothing in that regard. The CJP also remarked that Balochistan had already experienced a constitutional breakdown.

During the course of hearing, Raja Irshad, the counsel for FC, submitted a report on province’s law and order situation, saying that the FC had conducted “internal inquiries” and, according to those inquiries, the group of missing people “was not in the custody of FC”.

In many cases, insurgents dressed in FC uniforms committed “high profile acts of terrorism and heinous crimes, which is bringing a bad name to the federal organisation,” he added.

Irshad apprised the bench that as many as eight enquiries were being conducted by different lieutenants colonel. According to him, various aspects of investigation required further probe.

The report said that since January 1 as many as 829 people died in ‘terrorist’ attacks in the province whereas 429 people, including 59 officials from the FC, were ‘murdered’.

The report also stated that the FC should be given power of police for maintaining peace in the province or a commission should be formed in this regard.  Irshad said that FC’s powers had been curtailed through new ordinance. Similarly, army is not approached for maintaining peace.

He rejected the impression that army was conducting any operation in Balochistan.

A member of the bench, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, said that complaints with regard to the FC should be investigated thoroughly.

The Chief Justice said he was not satisfied with the FC’s reply and directed the paramilitary and civilian officials to appear before the court on Wednesday (today) again. “There is an apparent failure of the executive machinery to control law and order,” the CJP remarked.

The CJP observed that now the bench would unveil the names of persons who had failed to perform their duties in the province. He added that he had asked the Advocate General Balochistan whether the government had abolished no-go areas in Dera Bugti. 

The AG Balochistan submitted that there was no no-go area in that area, saying the government had devised a strategy to give compensation to the heirs of missing persons.

Justice Khawaja remarked that substantial amount was spent in the province adding that if the money distribution was the solution of the prevailing problems in Balochistan then the issue has already been solved. 

The hearing was adjourned until July 25 (today).