Quetta visit: CJ appeases Balochistan, promises to address problems

Says judiciary is working on recovery of missing persons.

QUETTA:

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said a larger bench will soon be constituted over the deteriorating human rights problems in Balochistan and non-recovery of missing persons.

While addressing a conference on environmental laws in Quetta on Friday, the Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Qazi Faez Isa drew the CJP’s attention towards the security problems in the province.

“The judiciary has kept a close eye on Balochistan’s problems, particularly the case of missing persons and target killings. Soon a larger bench will be constituted for retaining peace in the province,” he said.

He said the judiciary is making its utmost efforts to ensure the safe recovery of missing persons. “A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shakir Allah is working on law and order problems and target killings in Balochistan, while a commission led by Retired Justice Javed Iqbal is also struggling for the recovery of the missing persons,” he said.

The chief justice claimed that 95 of the 188 cases of missing persons submitted to the Supreme Court have so far been recovered.

“It is not only the responsibility of the judiciary to provide basic rights to citizens, but also the democratic government’s,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2011.