JIT to investigate killing of ex-CJ Meskanzai

Legal fraternity mourns martyrdom of former top judge

QUETTA:

Balochistan government has formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe into the killing of the former BHC chief justice Muhammad Noor Meskanzai. According to Balochistan Home and Tribal Affairs Department, the JIT would consist of officers from Police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), ISI, and Military Intelligence (MI).

The JIT would submit its report to the Balochistan government within 30 days. The DIG CTD would lead the JIT in investigating the murder, an official notification issued by the home department said.

Balochistan High Court (BHC) judges’ committee termed the martyrdom of former top judge of the province as an irreparable loss. CJ BHC Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan chaired the committee's meeting on Monday. The BHC judges offered fateha for the departed soul.

The judges expressed serious concern over the barbaric act and prayed for the departed soul, a press release issued by the BHC said on Monday.

The judges paid rich tribute to the martyr, who had also served as CJ Federal Shariat Court. The judges observed that the Justice had played an important role in strengthening the judiciary and judicial system in the country and the province.

Members of the legal fraternity had also observed a boycott of courts across Balochistan to mourn the killing of the former top judge of the province. Almost all bodies of the fraternity have announced three days of mourning to condemn the killing.

Unknown armed men opened fire and killed Justice Meskanzai in Balochistan's Kharan district the other day. Police said the armed accused opened fire at the former CJ when he came out of the mosque after offering prayers.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2022.