QUETTA:
Admonishing the Frontier Corps (FC) for failing to present missing person Kaho Bugti on Friday despite orders, the Supreme Court took notice of the absence of FC commandant Dera Bugti Colonel Arshad during court proceedings and ordered Inspector General FC Ubaidullah Khattak to cancel his remaining leave and ensure his availability along with Bugti, on Saturday (today).
Hearing the Balochistan law and order case, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Jawwad Khawaja, issued an order summoning federal secretaries of defence and interior along with commandant Frontier Corps (FC) Dera Bugti.
The bench stated that even though the chief secretary had sought time, a decline in violence, missing persons and continuing reports of targeted killings in the province had not occurred.
The bench further highlighted that people were nominating FC in all cases of missing persons and the report submitted by the FC in this regard was unsatisfactory. In its interim order, the Supreme Court summoned federal secretaries for defence and interior to the hearing to explain the government’s stance on the issue.
During the hearing, the chief justice remarked that “if the law enforcement agencies controlled the spread of illegal weapons and smuggled vehicles in the province, almost 50 per cent of the problem would be resolved”.
He added that all transit licences for weapons issued by intelligence agencies should be cancelled as people could be seen roaming around Quetta armed with deadly weapons. Khattak informed the court that the defence secretary had already cancelled transit licences (Rahdari) issued by two intelligence agencies. However, the chief justice sought a detailed list of all transit licences issued by secret agencies in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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Everybody know that half of the illicit arms are supplied by Dawood Ibrahim and likes. The government or the judiciary should go to the bottom of the problem. Arms licences can be cancelled for common people but what about the terrorists.
@Justin Truthful:
Political statements does not make any serious argument. It is when the courts starts providing alibi to the criminals and starts blaming armed forces, then the matter is serious and cannot be taken lightly. After damaging and defaming Parliament, the court has gone for the armed forces of Pakistan. It is doing all this either in sheer stupidity or is following a narrative. In both the cases this need to be addressed by some one who can stop this onslaught in its tracks..
I wonder what would critics of supreme court action/stance say if their own brothers or they themselves one day vanished without a trace on some pretext. This police state has to be turned into a lawful state that respects and protects the citizens/visitors alike. If the govt. of the day can't do that, then it has no moral and legal ground to sustain it's rule. As so innocence vs. guilt is the question, no one except the duly appointed court of law under a fair /due process has the authority to make a call on that. Otherwise what you have is a banana republic. I wish the court well in this challange of the fight of rights of pakistanis as otherwise we're doomed for another debacle. Then then we'll hold our head together to think where to pass the buck on. The rule I last time checked was still 'innocent until PROVEN guilty'. Pls stick to it for our salvation rather than expediency.
@A J Khan: “The end product of the case in hand will help UNO make a case against Pakistan.” There is a long list of troubles in Baluchistan and not just this case which can serve the basis of your speculation. However, if that happens, more than the judiciary, the blame would rest with the Provincial and Federal Governments. Let us hope that won't happen.
@Ehsan shah. Can you please give me more details about that you writed above? Beacuase I'm not agree with you in thís case. As we all know the situation in Pakistan's lawless areas have increased so I think it's very good to see SC in this case. Our government has failed to grant security to all pakistanis, and in Balochistan the situation is worst so it's a god thing that SC is interfering.
The alleged corruption of Arsalan has nothing to do with law taking its own course. Why is the Executive failing to do its job of protecting innocent civilians such that the Judiciary has to step in? If the Judiciary does not take notice it is condemned as conspiratorial neglect, if it does it is still accused of ulterior motives! But it does move on to do what it can, regardless, which attests to its sincerity and dutifulness. It is praiseworthy for not getting bogged down by negative criticism.
This confused judge has no business trying to run the government. The day he puts himself and his fraudia son into prison is the day I will develop some respect for this CJP (corrupt justice of pakistan). He should be ashamed of himself, stop his craziness and submit himself to the mercy of the people before its too late.
The issue of missing person is very complex.There are two categories of missing persons:-1 innocent 2 criminals. innocent persons must be released but what to do about those hardened criminals against whom nobody is ready to give evidence and present judicial system can not punish them.
This case is not about recovering innocent people kidnapped like Dr Bungalzai or Dr Ghulam Rasul Kakar or Dean Arbab Ghulam Rasul, target killing like SP Jamil Kakar , a long list of Hazaras etc or improving general Law and order of Balochistan. This is all about harassment of those who spill their blood to protect the citizens and scandalize law abiding citizens. This is about creating an alibi for the terrorists. This has a sinister design and narrative. The end product of the case in hand will help UNO make a case against Pakistan.
By not doing its duties to bring peace to Baluchistan and by not maintaining law and order, the Executive Branch of Government is creating a space for the Judiciary to step in. So why complain about the Supreme Court's taking over some functions of the Executive. Someone has to take care and someone must take responsibility seriously, the void cannot remain without some authority stepping in.