Balochistan hearing: Present missing persons in court or face arrest, law enforcers told
The Supreme Court was clearer in its ultimatum on Thursday in a case that seems to be going in circles: recover Balochistan’s missing persons or law-enforcement personnel nominated in the cases will be arrested.
Hearing a suo motu case on the Balochistan law and order situation, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry rejected a statement of compliance with the court’s July 25 order submitted by the province’s Advocate-General Amanullah Kinrani.
The chief justice remarked that the statement it showed no commitment to the issue of missing persons.
The advocate general, upon the bench’s objection, submitted an amended statement, only to have it rejected again.
The chief justice ordered Kinrani to submit a joint statement, signed by the defence and interior secretaries as well as the Inspector General (IG) of Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan, by July 31.
“Get the document signed or produce your law enforcement personnel nominated in the FIRs and we will get them arrested,” the chief justice thundered.
Citing many missing person cases, the chief justice said that the court had provided the concerned authorities with all the evidence.
“We have reached the stage where everything has been identified. We are now providing them an opportunity,” he remarked.
On the other hand, Raja Muhammad Irshad, counsel for the FC inspector general, rejected claims that FC personnel were nominated in complaints.
The bench adjourned the hearing till July 31, after observing that an incomplete statement by the advocate general could amount to misleading the court.
Meanwhile, the chief justice appreciated the prime minister’s move of forming a committee on the Balochistan issue.
Dera Bugti’s no-go area
Kinrani informed the court that only armed people were not allowed in Dera Bugti’s no-go areas, while local tribal disputes also impeded movement.
The chief justice noted that restrictions on mass movement should be removed, but maintained that the area should be subjected to an arms embargo.
“Not a single bullet should be allowed in the area,” he said.
Public domain institutions
While questioning the counsel for the Inspector General Frontier Corps,(IG FC) Justice Jawwad S Khawja said that bearing public criticism was part and parcel of being an institution in the public domain.
“Today, we have gone through a parliament debate in which certain remarks were passed against us but we never bothered.
“We are in the public domain and receive salaries from the public exchequer. How can we say that we are not accountable?” he added.
He reminded Irshad that the media reported many things, which were sometimes unpleasant, but this, he added, was the essence of a free society.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2012.
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yeh thery r all right
"Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking"....Long Live CJ...We hope these things a forced on the enemies of this nation from within and implemented with full force...The Govt clowns have made people sick enough
It is high time the uniformed lot learnt to obey the laws of this land.
The british PM Churchill Macmillan said "**if courts are providing justice to common people then we will win the war". I think if CJ would have put in his all energy to rectify and finish off the corruption in lower judicial cadres, up till now there would not have been any issues of such kind left. He will go home in less then a year leaving behind a lot of mess including his SON's and then we will remember him with memories of freed terrorists, burning Karachi and weak law enforcement agencies. Till this date except one lost PM no other case has seen the final and solid decision.I must say with regrets , we are a stupid nation.
Internally not interested in the issue but trying to get space in the hearts and minds of the Baloch people.
@ Tufan Agha,
Question of bring rule of law and order for common Balochi. You will not understand by thiniking from Kidney.
We expect that the court will some day pursue the case of innocent people also with the terrorists and ask them to stop killing and bombing in Balochistan. I agree with the courts when they talk of human rights of these terrorists , but conveniently fails to point the usurpation of human rights of peaceful citizens of Pakistan by the terrorists.. Had the courts stood with the innocent, peaceful, loyal and good citizens of Pakistan, side by side with Armed forces of Pakistan, like every where else in the world, things might have been different. Our discourse with the much discouraged peaceful citizens points out to this dilemma. We have seen the cases of violence on the increase after the encouragement of the terrorists and insurgents by putting the leadership of CAF on the mat.
Hats off to CJ
Trying to be hero??? or Return the favor for appointment of Advocate General by the late Nawab.