CJP smells conspiracy in G-B schools attack

Justice Nisar takes suo motu notice

MULTAN: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday linked the torching of schools in Gilgit-Baltistan to his call for building more dams and said it (the initiative) had fallen victim to 'opposition'.

"The schools are burnt in Gilgit-Baltistan in response to raising our voice for the construction of dams," the chief justice said while addressing the Multan Bar Council.

Unidentified attackers believed to be militants opposed to girls' education bombed and torched one dozen schools, including an Army Public School, in various parts of Diamer district in the early hours of Friday morning, triggering road protests and blockade of the Karakoram Highway.

Most of them were girls' schools, while at least one of the institutions had been attacked at least five times in recent years.

The chief justice said thought his initiative to collect funds to build the Diamer-Bhasha dam had garnered immense support in the country, it had also attracted ire of those who were opposed to development, implying that Thursday night's incident was an act of opposition to his initiative to collect funds for the dam.

"Diamer is such a peaceful place. I went to Gilgit-Baltistan a few days ago and was told by sessions judges and locals that it has been years since there has been a robbery or murder in the area," he told members of the Council.

"But as soon as we started talking about building a dam [there], 12 educational institutions were torched."

The chief justice said countries that gained independence after Pakistan were more successful today.

"Who is conspiring against Pakistan? We should think about this. I don't want to level irresponsible allegations against anyone but I am leaving it as a matter of thought for you people. For the past 60 years, no dam has been built and now that we are trying to build one, there are conspiracies against it," he said.

"But those involved in this conspiracy will be unmasked," the chief justice said.

"Ever since the demise of the founding fathers of Pakistan, the country has been plagued by the scourge of terrorism," Justice Nisar said.

"There will be nothing left for future generations if we don't ride the country of this menace once and for all," the top judge said.

"But you people are the protectors; the people of Pakistan will get this implemented!" he said, amid chants of "chief teray jaan nisar, beshumar beshumar!" [you have countless supporters, chief!] He urged people to participate and support the construction of dams.

"[Building] this dam is unavoidable now. It is vital for the survival of the country," he asserted, and urged people to "quash any conspiracy" that might hinder the construction of the dams.

He said lawyers, especially women in the legal fraternity, need to be encouraged.

"They [women lawyers] have played a great role in this profession," said the chief justice said.

In order to ensure their safety outside this profession, "first we need to advocate women within the profession".

On the shifting of courts to the judicial complex of Multan, the chief justice said he had addressed the reservations and the lawyers should be shifted back to the courts (katchehry). "Moreover, they must be allowed to practice where they feel necessary."

Talking about the issue of water scarcity, the chief justice said the issue surface from Karachi. "Construction of dams is inevitable and only people of Pakistan can get it done," said the chief justice.

He told the audience that his granddaughter has donated her pocket money and Eidi of Rs60,000 for the construction of dam.

Talking about the Kalabagh dam, the chief justice said it would be constructed after reaching a consensus among all provinces, adding "we should build those dams first on which consensus has been reached among all stake holders".

Prior to the visit to Multan, the chief justice visited the shrine of sufi saint Baba Farid Ganj Shakar at Pakpattan.

Meanwhile, the chief justice of Pakistan took suo motu notice of the attack on schools in Diamer.

In a series of tweets, UNICEF Pakistan condemned the incident and lauded the government's notice of the incident. "Attacks on schools rob children of their basic right to education and have a devastating impact on their lives," the tweet said.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has called for the rebuilding of the torched schools torched.

Yousafzai tweeted about the attack, saying "extremists have shown what frightens them most a girl with a book".

Human Rights Watch, a New York-based advocacy group, called on Pakistan to take urgent measures to make schools safer and to fairly prosecute those responsible for such attacks.

"The devastating attacks on schools in Diamer highlight the dangers that many students and teachers in Pakistan face on a regular basis," Bede Sheppard, deputy children's rights director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

"The government should promptly investigate and prosecute these attacks and ensure that children have a safe place to attend school."

"The Pakistani government should do all it can to deter future attacks on education, beginning with improving school security and providing the public with reliable information on threats," Sheppard said.

"Attacks on education not only harm the students and families directly affected, but also have an incalculable long-term negative effect on Pakistani society."