“Until the political resolution of insurgency in Balochistan, all attempts to (restore) peace in the province will be in vain. Even if I impose curfew on Saryab Road in Quetta,” IG Balochistan Ahsan Mahboob told the three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim.
Security paradox: Balochistan IG trains his gun at external enemies
The bench is hearing a suo motu case on the August 8 terrorist attack in Quetta after which the one-man judicial commission pointed out the “monumental failure” of the interior ministry to combat terrorism.
During the hearing on Thursday, the IG Balochistan complained about the commission’s conduct. In an emotionally-charged manner, the IG claimed that the commission’s head humiliated him during the proceedings, adding that the commission did not hear his point of view. “We are also securing Quetta as well as the CPEC route. Terrorists always prefer to target Balochistan.”
However, Justice Hani asked the chief of police to avoid becoming emotional and said that whenever such tragic incidents happen, tough questions are bound to be asked.
Khawaja Haris and Raja Abdul Rehman, who appeared on behalf of the Balochistan government, stated that although the provincial government had some reservation on the commission’s findings, they were ready to implement its recommendations.
Khawaja Haris also expressed concern over the court’s decision for making the commission’s report public, adding that report was politically hurting the provincial government.
Hamid Khan, the counsel for Balochistan High Court Bar Association, requested the bench to make the commission’s recommendations part of its judicial decision.
Additional Attorney-General Waqar Rana submitted that the interior ministry had already engaged Makhdoom Ali Khan in this case but he was busy in the Panama leaks case. He said that Makhdoom Ali Khan had wanted to file objections over the report on behalf of the ministry.
The bench wondered how the interior ministry could engage private counsels in this matter.
Later, the court summoned the Attorney-General on February 6 to know whether the federal government was interested in implementing the commission’s recommendations. The bench also sought a reply from the provincial government.
The damning report, made public by the Supreme Court on December 15 was compiled by Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2017.
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