ISLAMABAD  -   The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday directed federal interior minister to probe into the grievances submitted by the students belonging to the province of Balochistan in the context of racial profiling and harassment. A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued the directions while hearing a petition, seeking recovery of a missing person Hafeez Baloch, a student of Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU).

During the hearing, the court was informed that students had met the minister for interior and a report was also submitted before the bench. However, the counsels for the petitioners asserted that the meeting was not fruitful, because the minister for Interior informed them that he may not be holding his office by next week.

The IHC bench observed, “Such a response was definitely not expected from a chosen representative holding one of the most important public offices. The federal government has, regrettably, ignored the serious grievances of the students and the minister for interior was expected not only to hear the students but to take prompt action in order to ensure that there is no harassment or feeling of racial profiling in future.”

The IHC chief justice noted that the grievances of the petitioners are grave in nature and the chancellor of the Quaid-e-Azam University,  i.e. the worthy president of Pakistan is, therefore, expected to ensure that the grave grievances of the students belonging to Balochistan, particularly in the context of racial profiling and harassment are probed.

“The vice chancellor of the Quaid-e-Azam University is also directed to submit a report, inter alia, explaining why students of Balochistan feel that they have been subjected to racial profiling. The Court expects that a report on behalf of the chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University i.e. the worthy president of Pakistan will be submitted before the date fixed,” said Justice Athar.

He also directed the minister for interior to probe into the grievances submitted by the students belonging to the province of Balochistan and submit a report, highlighting the actions taken to dispel the perception of racial profiling.

Later, the bench deferred the hearing in this matter till April 8 for further proceedings.