Petition against target killing, ransom in Balochistan: Supreme Court issues notices to AGP

The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday issued notices to Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Advocate General Balochistan on a petition against incidents of target killings, kidnapping for ransom in Balochistan besides directing all the respondents to file para wise comments in this regard.
The court directed the government to ensure protection to the life and property of all the citizens throughout the province and submit a comprehensive report about measures taken to control such incidents in the province.
A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry comprising Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday was hearing a petition filed by President Balochistan High Court Bar Association under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making the federal government through interior ministry and nine others as respondents.
The petitioner requested the court to direct respondents to protect the life and property of the people of Balochistan and take all steps to control the incidents of target killing, kidnapping and abduction for ransom.
The petitioner has made chief secretary Balochistan, both federal and provincial interior ministries, ISI, MI, IB, IG Police, IG FC, IG Levis as respondents in his petition. The petitioner stated that law enforcing agencies have failed to protect the life and property of the citizens including advocates, officials, members of law enforcing agencies and the citizens.
Noting some instances, he said on July 15, 2010, a senior advocate Habib Jalib was brutally murdered in front of his house. On September 7, 2010, Zaman Marri was murdered and his dead body was recovered from Mastung area. On September 14, 2010, the law enforcing agencies abducted three persons.
On September 24, 2010, dead body of Sher Ali Kurd (advocate) was recovered from Khuzdar area, who was abducted on September 21, 2010 from Quetta. On August 13, 2010, two dead bodies were recovered from Sabzal Road, Quetta. On August 21, 2010, dead bodies of Muhammad Umer and Arz Muhammad were recovered from Quetta. Besides, the petitioner stated that the Governor and the Chief Minister were attacked, even then no effective action was taken. Similarly, he quotes an example that the I.G.P/PPO and the Chief Secretary, Balochistan were also attacked while travelling from Sibbi to Quetta a few days before.
The petitioner contended that throughout the province of Balochistan no body being law abiding citizen considers himself to be safe/protected and day in and day out there are incidents of target killing, kidnapping, abduction for ransom and the media both print and electronic are widely publishing such news but the authorities at the helm of the affairs have failed to discharge their functions though they are bound to protect life, liberty and property of the citizens and to maintain their dignity as well in terms of Article 9, 14 and 24 of the Constitution. The court adjourned hearing till February 25.