The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued interim order in a case pertaining to law and order situation and forced disappearances in Balochistan.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, was hearing the petition filed by the Balochistan Bar Association on the law and order situation in the province.
During the hearing, the chief justice ruled that the Balochistan government had failed in stopping violation of human rights in the province. “Mutilated bodies are being found but it is yet to be determined who is responsible,” the SC noted.
The SC said in its order that targeted killings and kidnapping for ransom were continuing in the province and the government has failed in accordance with constitution, besides, the federal government also didn’t take any action to fulfill its responsibilities in the province.
It said although 432 Frontier Corps personnel had been killed, only the paramilitary force was held responsible for missing person’s issue.
The court said that there was involvement of secret agencies in the province. The apex court order said that compensations be paid to the families of missing persons whose tortured bodies had been found.
The Supreme Court endorsed the decision of the high court regarding banned outfits. It said that the government was facing corruption allegations and it should take measures in this regard.
Justice Iftikhar said that the judiciary’s past decisions were now a part of history, adding that, the institution would no longer protect any unlawful and unconstitutional measures.
Addressing Advocate General Balochistan Amanullah Kanrani, the chief justice said that the law officer should tell the provincial government that it had a faulty approach.
Kinrani said Balochistan’s security situation had deteriorated after the killing of nationalist leader Akbar Bugti.
In a dialogue with the DIG of CID police, the chief justice said that the CID had been directed to operate across Balochistan, adding that, he hoped that the institution would fulfill its responsibilities and produce satisfactory results.
The chief justice said that the constitution was supreme and added: “We could not give any suggestion to amend it.” Justice Khilji Arif Hussain remarked that many until today would have transcended the constitution, but we would give decision under the constitution.
The CJ said National Finance Commission (NFC) has given manifold sum for development, where has that money gone, despite so much of allocated fund, the road would not be found. He said we should have honest and true representative of the people.
Earlier, lawyer Zafar Ahmad said that except Quetta, other Baloch and Pashtun areas in Balochistan remind us of the olden era. Without peace, development could not take place.
CJ said that the situation gets worse when one was pushed to the corner. “We desire the end of target killing and missing person in Balochistan province,” the CJ added.