Former BHC CJ Meskanzai shot dead in Kharan

Miscreants open fire as the retired judge came out of a mosque after offering Isha prayers

QUETTA:

Muhammad Noor Meskanzai, former chief justice of Balochistan High Court (BHC) as well as the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), was martyred, when unknown miscreants opened fire on him at a mosque in Kharan after Isha prayers on Friday.

Justice (retd) Meskanzai was coming out of the mosque after offering the prayers, when he was critically injured in the firing. Officials said that he was initially taken to a nearby hospital. He succumbed to the bullet wounds, while being shifted to the Quetta Civil Hospital, they added.

Two others people were also injured in the shooting. “As he came out [of mosque] unknown people opened fire at him,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Nazeer Ahmed Kurd said. The police and levies forces had reached the spot and an investigation into the incident was under way.

Justice (retd) Meskanzai was born on September 1, 1956 in Kunri, Kharan district. He got his early education in Kharan and then moved to Quetta for further education. He did his LLB from the University Law College, Quetta in 1979-1980 and started his legal practice in 1981.

He also served as assistant advocate general of Balochistan and vice chairman of the Balochistan Bar Council in 2005-06, before he was elevated as an additional judge of the BHC in 2009. He was confirmed as a Judge in 2011 and became the chief justice in 2014.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qadoos Bizenjo termed the martyrdom of Justice (retd) Meskanzai a great loss of Balochistan province. “We will not spare those who create trouble in Balochistan”, Bizenjo stated.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and the judges of the BHC expressed grief and sorrows over the martyrdom of Justice (retd) Maskanzai in a terrorist attack in Kharan. In a statement issued, the judges paid rich tributes to Justice (retd) Maskanzai Maskanzai for his services.

The statement said that the martyred chief justice expanded the courts across Balochistan to provide justice to the people at their doorsteps. “His services will always be remembered,” the statement said, adding that the chief justice and the judges strongly condemned “this incident of terrorism”.

Mastung blast

Separately, at least three people were killed and four others sustained injuries in a landmine explosion that targeted the vehicle of tribal elder Shah Nawaz Bangulzai in Balochistan's Mastung district on Friday evening, local officials said.

The explosion occurred in the Qabu area which destroyed two vehicles, Mastung Deputy Commissioner Sultan Bugti told The Express Tribune. The tribesmen were carrying the body of a tube-well operator who was killed a few days ago, he added.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo strongly condemned the attack and directed the deputy commissioner to submit a report in this regard. In a statement, Bizenjo said the perpetrators of the attack would be brought to justice and no one would be spared.