Breakthrough: SC commends Balochistan govt’s progress on security

CJ Chaudhry says judiciary will support democratic process ‘at all cost’.

ISLAMABAD:

Authorities in Balochistan seemed to have finally caught a break – from an unlikely source.

The Supreme Court, for the first time in months, acknowledged the provincial authorities were making progress in improving the security situation in Balochistan.

During a hearing of the Balochistan law-and-order case on Tuesday, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that the judiciary would support the democratic process in the country at every cost and he asked the authorities to ensure that no one would derail the system.

The court was also informed that around 136 families of victims whose bodies were found dumped around the province have been identified and would be compensated soon.

Shahid Hamid, the government’s counsel, informed the court that following the imposition of governor’s rule, no untoward incident has taken place or any mutilated body found, which, he added, was a positive indicator.

The court directed the government to accelerate the process of finding missing persons and submit a report within three days.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the court directed the government to complete the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kohlu and Dera Bugti districts and register their names in the voter list.

Earlier, president of the Jamhoori Watan Party, Talal Bugti, presented a four-point agenda to the court on the issue.

Apart from registering IDP’s names, the government, he said, should compensate the people of his area against all losses incurred after Akbar Bugti’s death. Secondly, out-of-turn appointments in the OGDCL should be halted immediately. He also called for the Balochistan government to ensure his protection. The court accepted all his demands and directed the chief secretary to look into them. The hearing was adjourned till February 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2013.