QUETTA: While in dialogue with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s principal secretary Khushnood Lashari, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that if the prime minister does not want implementation of the Supreme Court’s orders, other options including ‘emergency’ were available in the constitution, Express News reported.
Further irked by the absence of the Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zafarullah Zehri, Justice Chaudhry ordered the interior secretary to register a case against him, adding that if Zehri did not want to appear before the court then he should be arrested and brought before the apex court.
The chief justice made these remarks during the hearing pertaining to the deteriorating law and order situation and missing persons cases in Balochistan.
Defence Secretary Narjis Sethi, the premier’s principal secretary Khushnood Lashari, DIG Balochistan, IG Police, Chief Secretary Balochistan and the interior secretary appeared before the court.
The apex court expressed resentment as those involved continued to defy the court’s orders.
Gilani on Wednesday directed his principal secretary and the cabinet secretary to appear before the apex court in Quetta. He gave the directive while chairing the meeting of Cabinet. A PM house statement said, “It clearly manifests how much the government holds the Supreme Court in high esteem.”
Earlier, unable to satisfy the judges during the hearing of cases pertaining to missing persons in Balochistan, Deputy Attorney General (AG) Malik Sikander walked out of court and later submitted his resignation.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly mentioned Balochistan's Home Minister as Mir Nasirullah Zehri. The error has been rectified.
COMMENTS (24)
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No action by the Govt. and hollow threats by the court. End result zero sum game.
@Elhaan Khan: actually he did appear few days back,late though
Correction: The name of Balochistan Home Minister is "Mir Zafarullah Zehri", not "Mir Naseerullah Zehri".
indications of 'legally approved martial law' is just around the corner..
@Kulamarva Balakrishna: good question, if it is said by cj then i think it does
Who needs democracy without justice? Halagu khan while leaving Baghdad asked the people " tell me what is good, Rule by a believer who is unjust or by a just non believer?" The people replied " certainly a JUST non believer.
The chief justice deserves praise. The case of extra judicial killings, euphemism for 'missing persons' is at the core of the malaise that afflicts Pakistan and that is the impunity with which those sworn to defend the law, brutaliza and violate it. Its that impunity that the CJ is fighting against and he deserves enormous praise.
@Syed Muhammad Asim - sure well noted.
@Adnan Ajmal: You are crazy saying "I believe that Nawaz Sharif can resolve the issues of Balochistan" . PS i am not suporter of PTI.
Enough said but not enough done so It's about time, please.
You can attribute to him whatever you may like, but he is not one who bites the hand that feeds him.
Vienna, May 23,2012 In the case of emergency, the governance is taken over by the judiciary?What does the Constitution provide? Is judiciary is armed to implement the emergency? Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
I hav`nt heard a single comment by our honorable CJ and the rest of the so called authorities about the massacre of over 800 Hazaras, most of them children and young adults during last few years. All of them were patriots and had contributed towards the progress of that region including Education, Trade and the Army. This deafning silence is unbareable to many !
It seems most of the people here do not know how legal process works. CJ has asked all of the culprits to appear on court but these people refused to come.
If a court still waits for a miracle to get its decisions implemented then it should simply shutdown its business. Justice delayed is justice denied.
we have a government who is defying the court orders how preposturous is to think that because the pm is not abiding the law so the court should lower his voice. the courts never had the ammunition to make people to obey their orders, especially if the head of the state is defying it. its always the morality of the society and irony is that we are loosing our morality too by suggesting the court to stop passing the orders.
Dare asking the Khakis first!
These all are making fun of the people of Balochistan, Even ministers has declared that FC is involved in kill and dump of the people of Balochistan, Police has also given footage that FC arrested people and taken to cent area even FC was in uniform. What else proofs Chief Justice want.If any of the missing person is involve in anti state activity they should be produced before the court of law and must be punished according to the law. Not like this where families do not know where there loved ones are. We have a country and constitutions. The Government and agencies must do it according to the law.
PM: 'Look CJ. I am the elected PM. I am protected by the Constitution. I can do whatever I want as Parliament is behind my back.' Sorry people of Balochistan, 'inaction' is a fundamental right of the incumbent PM and Govt.
I have stopped following the judgements of Honourable Supreme Court as the Government does not implement them and Supreme Court does not ensure it's enforcement as per constitution