Court summons officials over ‘harassment’ of Baloch students

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah has summoned the interior secretary and the secretary of human rights in person on a petition against the alleged harassment of Baloch students across the country.

The IHC chief justice said that despite meetings with Baloch students, their grievances were not resolved. "Why the commission of inquiry has not been convened yet despite its formation," inquired the IHC chief justice.

During the hearing, the judge said that the grievances of Baloch students and petitioners have not been addressed by the government.

“Why should Baloch students feel that they are being racially profiled? The court will not allow a single Baloch student to think that there is no one to address their complaints. If all political parties are present in the commission, then what is the issue? It seems that Baloch students are facing serious problems which are not being addressed. What has the government done so far after the petitions of Baloch students were filed here?” the IHC chief justice observed.

The judge asked the Deputy Attorney General who all the security agencies were reporting to.? At this, the DAG said that they were subordinate to the federal government.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2022.