BHC directs police to arrest killers of woman professor

QUETTA - A division bench comprising Chief Justice Qazi Faez Essa and Justice Tahira Safdar while taking serious view of incident of target-killing of Assistant Professor of University of Balochistan Nazima Talib has directed police authorities to taking all possible measures to arrest the culprits involved in her killing. The bench gave this directive while hearing a suo moto case regarding incidents of target-killing in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. The bench expressed disappointment over delay in construction of forensic laboratory in Quetta, saying: The state needs to be reminded that the safety and security of citizens is its primary responsibility. The court said that no one explained that why the project which was approved in 2002 could not be completed till date. The provision of laboratory and other infrastructure will go a long way towards detection of crime and criminals and in effectively prosecuting criminals when they are apprehended. We expect that the federal government will expeditiously fulfil its obligations, the bench added. Expressing serious concern, the bench observed: We had taken the cognizance of incidents of the target killings when another gruesome incident of cold blooded murder of Professor Nazima Talib of the University of Balochistan occurred. She had rendered valuable service to the people of Balochistan for decades. Mr Habib Jalib Advocate who was present in the court stated that the incident must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, adding that the same was heinous crime and carried out to instil fear and terror in the populace. The bench directed police authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder of Professor Nazima Talib and spare no effort in apprehending the perpetrators of the crime. The bench observed that Establishment Division is not performing its functions and succumbs to the personal requests of officers. Half of the posts in the police force in grades BPS-17 to BPS-20 are lying vacant in Balochistan due to irresponsible attitude of Establishment Division. The bench regretted and directed Establishment Division to submit report in respect of the above observances and explain the said discrepancies.