QUETTA:
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday ordered a smaller security detail for Balochistan-based parliamentarians and politicians while freeing up extra Levies force personnel for routine security work.
The chief justice passed the order when provincial Home Secretary Naseebullah Khan Bazai pointed out that many members of the Levies paramilitary force – who are responsible for maintaining law and order in certain parts of the province – were not performing their duties. Instead, Bazai said, they were part of the security contingent of certain ministers as well as provincial and National Assembly members.
Balochistan Advocate General Amanullah Kanrani supported Bazai’s assertion, leading the CJ to direct the withdrawal of extra number of Levies Force personnel from the security entourages of these politicians.
Earlier the chief justice voiced dissatisfaction with the Balochistan police inspector general and provincial home secretary and directed concerned authorities to ensure the security of people and their property without discrimination. He also proposed a major crackdown against elements that are creating a law and order situation in Balochistan. Law enforcement agencies should go at full throttle against those sabotaging peace in the province.
The chief justice made these remarks while hearing a suo motu case against the kidnapping of senior psychiatrist Dr Ghulam Rasool. He termed the report of Dr Rasool’s recovery unsatisfactory. He remarked that kidnapped people were being freed after paying ransoms or through mediation by tribal elders but not by law enforcement agencies.
During the proceedings, it also came to light that many kidnappers utilised smuggled vehicles in their attempts. In this regard, the CJ directed the excise secretary to compile a comprehensive report detailing vehicles registered through the Excise and Taxation Department in the province. The chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue was also summoned for the next hearing and asked to submit a report regarding the number of vehicles which have been impounded due to non-payment of export duty and the preventive measures taken against the smuggling of vehicles in the country. (With additional input from APP)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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@GhostRider: To be fair, you should have also called for action on its own motion (suo moto) for investigating the recent killings of Sunnis in Karachi's Water Pump/Gulberg/Nagan Chowrangi areas.
@Mirza: But politicians are overprotected. Let them use helicopters while travelling within large cities, if they can, particularly those in Government. And, that would reduce traffic jams and congestions.
@Khadim Karrar: Politicians have been murdered and attacked many times, they have some justification for protection. How many SC judges have been attacked and murdered? Regards, Mirza
"Earlier the chief justice voiced dissatisfaction with the Balochistan police inspector general and provincial home secretary and directed concerned authorities to ensure the security of people and their property without discrimination. He also proposed a major crackdown against elements that are creating a law and order situation in Balochistan. Law enforcement agencies should go at full throttle against those sabotaging peace in the province." Thomas Jefferson said something to the effect: If the Government fears the people there is freedom (and democracy.) If the people fear the Government there is tyranny. I would like to add if neither the Government fears the people nor the people fear the Government, there is anarchy. If this formulation is correct, then there exists a state of anarchy in Pakistan.
president prime minister and cj has same protocal
Few minutes back, his Lordship was departing Quetta. All the roads joining airport road were closed. His cavalcade was definitely equal to that of the Prime Minister or President, if not more. People were using adjectives for the long closure and getting late for their destinations. So where is the moral authority.
If politicians are so scared of their lives how can they be with the people whom they claim to represent?
@Jibran........He is not using levies..........
Thanks for the Eid holidays, now the top politician of the country is back on the front page. He wants to rule the country and not decide the cases pending for decades. The PCO CJ makes more statments than any political leader in the country while still on govt payroll.
@jibran:
Are you part of his security detail ? How do you know that he travels like the president?. Good that he acts as the executive since someone has to when the PM is a puppet.
he takes suo moto if a cat dies from a car of a treasury parliamentarian...what abt shia killing doesnt this deserve suo moto?
He should not interfere in the matters of executives and stay as a judge and I hope when he retires or steps down he should be charged for stepping beyond his constitutionally allotted duties and for breaching the constitution.
What about his own security detail? He travels with the security of the president. And he is giving orders like the chief executive. Shameful!
CJP should set the example. BUT I agree with him 100%