Supreme Court of Pakistan
Supreme Court of Pakistan. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a petition on the law and order situation and human rights violations in Balochistan, DawnNews reported.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, heard the petition filed by the Balochistan Bar Association on the law and order situation in the province.

During the hearing, the counsel for intelligence agencies, Advocate Raja Mohammad Irshad, told the bench that it was perpetuating an anti-state agenda.

Upon which, Chief Justice Iftikhar addressing Advocate Irshad said: "You are perpetuating an anti-state agenda, you should refrain from making such statements."

Also, in his remarks, Chief Justice Iftikhar said that the Constitution's Article 9 was being thoroughly violated in Balochistan.

Moreover, the Frontier Corps (FC) presented its investigation report on Balochistan before the bench which was rejected soon after.

The chief justice said that the report can be submitted before the bench once it is signed by Inspector General of Frontier Corps Major General Obaidullah Khan Khattak.

Chief Justice Iftikhar said that the conditions in Balochistan were not very different from its conditions in 1947.

The chief justice said that the bench was relying on the FC on the matter, adding that, if the FC wanted, the issue could be resolved.

He further said that those who had migrated from Dera Bugti were living in abject conditions, adding that, it was the provincial government's responsibility to ensure the restoration of peace in the province.

The hearing was later adjourned to Sept 3.

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