The Supreme Court on Tuesday re-directed the federal and Balochistan governments to ensure enforcement of constitution in the province for protection of life and property of people. The court also directed the concerned officials to take steps against those involved in the targeted killings and cases of kidnapping in Balochistan province and recover missing persons.
Heading a three-member bench, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said there would be no compromise on fundamental rights. He said that law and order situation in Balochistan was worsening day by day. The chief justice said that people were being picked up for ransom, but the law enforcement agencies were not taking any action against those involved in such crimes. According to him, there may be some political or other motives behind their failure. The chief justice said now the court had come to the conclusion to hold federal and provincial governments responsible for the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan.
Adjourning the hearing till September 3, 2012, the court directed federal and provincial governments to take solid and effective measures to improve law and order situation in Balochistan. The court also directed the concerned officials to submit a weekly report in the registrar office for the perusal of judges.
The court noted that trouble in Balochistan began in 2006. The elements responsible for fomenting violence completed their mission and fled the country. He ordered that efforts should be made to normalise the situation in the province and priority should be given to Dera Bugti from where the trouble began.
Inspector General Frontier Constabulary Major-General Obaidullah Khattak informed the bench that all out efforts were being made to recover the eight missing persons. He said it was not right to doubt the honesty of the FC because they desired to recover the missing as soon as possible. Addressing him, the CJP said that if sincere efforts were made only then would law and order situation improve in the restive province.
Advocate General Balochistan Amanullah Kanrani informed the court that federal and provincial governments had taken strong notices of worsening law and order situation. He further told the bench that a committee headed by Defence Minister has been constituted.
He also apprised the bench that it was the first step towards improving the law and order situation in Balochistan. According to him, he is optimistic that situation will improve. Kanrani submitted a report in the court, which did not carry the FC IG's signature. The bench returned the report and asked the province's top legal officer to get it signed by the IG FC. Major-General Obaidullah told the court that the Defence Ministry had stopped him from signing the joint report. On the court's order, however, he signed on the report.
The CJP asked him whether he was aware of a news item published in an English daily. According to that report, a case had been registered against the DGs MI and ISI in missing persons' case in Lahore, the CJP added. He said the bench was showing restraint in the instant matter, adding that both the agencies had been playing a frontline role in defending the country. The hearing was adjourned till September 3.
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