ISLAMABAD: Human rights activist Nasrullah Baloch’s appeal for a judicial inquiry into the shocking discovery of mass graves in Khuzdar, Balochistan, has finally come to the notice of Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, who has summoned detailed reports on the matter from the provincial government.

Taking suo motu notice of the issue on Saturday, the chief justice described the unearthing of 13 decomposed bodies from the mass graves as a serious violation of fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution and fixed the case for hearing on Tuesday.

Nasrullah Baloch, chairman of the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons, had appeared before the Supreme Court on Thursday and mentioned the incident.

According to reports, the corpses were discovered after a shepherd told security personnel about the discovery of bones, limbs and the possibility of a grave in the area.

Mr Baloch, who along with Mama Qadeer Baloch had led a long march from Quetta from Oct 27 last year to press for the recovery of the missing Baloch political workers, had also alleged before the court that since he had launched the campaign, his brother had been picked up by the intelligence agencies and he was also receiving threats.

Advocate Shahid Hamid, who represented the Balochistan government, had tried to explain its position about the mass graves before the three-judge bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, but the court had declined to entertain the request, saying the matter was not before it.

Later, a senior officer from the provincial government conceded while talking to Dawn that 13 bodies were decomposed beyond recognition.

He said the Balochistan government had ordered DNA tests of the bodies and the results would be matched with those of the families of the Baloch missing persons.

But Nasrullah Baloch had told reporters that three of the bodies had been identified and the names of the victims were on the list of missing persons.

The chief justice ordered the Balochistan police chief to submit a report about the factual position by Feb 4. The deputy commissioner of Khuzdar was also asked to submit a report.

PANCHAYAT: The chief justice also took suo motu notice of a news report about an incident in which a ‘panchayat’ (village council) in Mazaffargarh was accused of ordering gang-rape of a woman in revenge for her brother’s alleged affair.

The incident took place last week when a villager accused a relative of his of having an affair with his wife.

The panchayat’s chief, Nawaz, is reported to have sentenced the woman to be raped by men from the ‘aggrieved’ party. The woman was taken to a room where a man belonging to the complainant’s side stripped and hit her.

The chief justice ordered the Punjab police inspector general to report on the veracity of the news and action taken by his department in this regard.