ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday took suo moto notice of the killing of 20 people in Balochistan in the last one week.

According to a statement issued here, the chief justice took notice on media reports carrying the details of the killing of 20 people in Balochistan’s Turbat and Buleda areas.

It said that as per media reports thee slain hailed from different districts of Punjab and they were taken to Balochistan by human traffickers for their further journey to Iran by crossing the border illegally.

Taking notice of the killings, the chief justice sought a detailed report from Inspector General Police Balochistan and Director General, FIA within three days, especially with regard to the steps being taken to curb such incidents in the future. As many as 20 bullet-riddled bodies were found in Turbat and Buleda areas this week and all the deceased hailed from Punjab.

LEAs launch search

operation in Quetta

Agencies add: Police and Frontier Corps (FC) are conducting a search operation with the help of locals and notables to ensure zero terrorist presence in the Quetta’s Pashtunabad area, Deputy Inspector General Abdur Razzaq Cheema said on Sunday.

The operation was triggered after recent killings of senior police offices in the city and massacre of 20 labouers in Turbat.

In a media briefing, FC Sector Commander Brigadier Tassawur and DIG Cheema explained upon the operations being conducted in the city involving the locals to rid the Quetta of any terrorist sanctuaries.

Cheema said that over 500 out of the 3,000 houses in the area have been searched at present.

He said that the operation started about two days ago.

Two other low-level operations were conducted in the past few weeks and more such operations are in the pipeline, he added.

Detailing the methodology of the operation, the two security officials said that special teams including security personnel, locals and “women searchers” were formed to visit every house. The teams were divided into four sectors and a total of 120 people were part of it as part of “social manoeuvres” to conduct an effective operation.

Terming it “community policing”, Cheema said that the operation was aimed at helping the local populace and not trouble them. It was to restore confidence in the public to report any terrorist activity or presence of a terrorist in the area, he said.

“Also part of the operation are four magistrates, medical professionals, while children and mosque imams were provided with gifts,” Brig Tassawur said.