QUETTA: The Supreme Court on Tuesday resumed the hearing of 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, was hearing at the court’s Quetta registry the petition filed by the Balochistan Bar Association on the law and order situation in Pakistan’s largest province.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar expressed his displeasure over the absence of Attorney General Irfan Qadir from the hearing.

In his remarks, the chief justice said that the federation and the AG were not interested in the issue.

Justice Iftikhar moreover summoned all concerned secretaries for the next hearing.

The chief justice further remarked that the attorney general would not be allowed to enter the courts without  permission. He added that the secretaries should be present in the court for their defence.

Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Nawabzada Talal Bugti was also present during the hearing.

Moreover, Inspector General Balochistan Police Tariq Omar Khitab submitted a notification to quash shoulder promotions in the court today. Whereas, Chief Justice Iftikhar ordered that all police officers who had been transferred to Quetta and were attempting to reverse the measure should report to the Balochistan government within a week.

Also during the hearing, Balochistan's Home Secretary presented a report pertaining to targeted killings in the province.

The chief justice said bodies of 426 people had surfaced in the province, adding that, the killing of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti was the worst mistake in the country's history.

He further said that during the past six months, 46 people from the Shia community became victims of targeted killings whereas 20 Sunni ulema had also been killed.

The chief justice further said that resolving the issue in Dera Bugti was crucial to establishing peace in the province at large.

Upon which, Talal Bugti said that travelling to Dera Bugti in the presence of FC would be suicidal.