Controlling lawlessness: SC directs Balochistan govt to seek help from agencies

Chief minister to summon an all parties’ conference and a jirga of tribal leaders.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday directed the Balochistan Government to seek assistance from intelligence agencies in curbing lawlessness in the province.

The division bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed concern over the law and order situation in the province. The court directed Chief Secretary Ahmad Buksh Lehri and Advocate General Balochistan to take Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence and the Intelligence Bureau on board to resolve the issue. “These agencies are not above the law; they are answerable to the court,” the Chief Justice remarked.

“It is the state’s responsibility to protect the life and property of its citizens. What security can the government offer its people when it cannot guarantee the safety of the chief minister and the chief secretary?” the Chief Justice asked. The bench asked the officials to present the government a copy of the report submitted before the court.

The AG informed the court that the chief minister will summon an all parties’ conference and a jirga of tribal leaders. Restoration of the executive magistracy is on the cards and local government elections are planned for the near future. Law enforcement agencies are recruiting Baloch.

Giving an update on the recent kidnappings of two judges, he said a judge has been freed while efforts are underway to rescue the lawyers. “Prima facie, persons accused of terrorism, target killing, and abduction have not been arrested which is very unfortunate,” the Chief Justice observed.

President Balochistan High Court Bar Association Hadi Shakeel had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the deteriorating law and order in the province. The petitioner stated that the provincial governor and chief minister were also attacked, but even then no action was taken. He said that the media was disseminating news on the rising incidence of violence in the province but authorities at the helm had failed to fullfil their responsibility to protect the citizens’ life and property and to preserve their dignity, in terms of Article 9, 14 and 24 of the Constitution. He submitted that law enforcement agencies had failed to provide security to the citizens.

He made the Balochistan chief secretary, federal and provincial interior ministries, ISI, MI, IB, Inspectors-General of the police, the Frontier Constabulary and the Levies respondents in the petition.

The petition stated that 5,000 persons were missing in the province and that target killings and kidnapping for ransom were routine occurrences in Balochistan.

The court adjourned the case for four weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2011.