ISLAMABAD: The federal government denied in the Supreme Court on Friday allegations about proxy death squads operating in Balochistan under the supervision of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI).

The denial came in response to a six-point charter submitted to the court on Thursday by estranged Baloch leader and former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal alleging that proxy death squads which operated the way like Al Shams and Al Badar operated (in Bangladesh) were responsible for enforced disappearances and unrest in the province.

The government’s statement submitted in compliance with a court directive was finalised at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. It was attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, minister for postal services, secretary defence, ISI Director General Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Ayub Qazi and Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad. Attorney General Irfan Qadir joined the meeting later.

The statement was submitted by the provincial chief secretary to a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain. The bench had taken up a petition of former president of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association Hadi Shakeel on the law and order situation, target killings, kidnappings for ransom and missing persons in the province.

The court had ordered the Balochistan chief secretary to bring to the notice of the prime minister and the heads of ISI, MI and Intelligence Bureau the issues highlighted by Sardar Mengal and inform the court about their response on Friday.

The statement categorically said that no covert or overt military operation was being carried out in Balochistan by the armed forces and no alleged missing person was in the custody or under detention of any law-enforcement agency. Despite this, the statement said, hectic efforts were being made to trace the missing persons.

“The government has always believed that all political parties in Balochistan should participate in po1itical activities without any interference from any quarter. In this regard concern of any person will be addressed so that the forthcoming election should take place in a transparent manner through participation of all political parties,” the statement said.

Similarly, lodging of FIRs and setting up of joint investigation teams have been ordered in the matter. Recently, it said, the Balochistan government had approved a compensation policy for legal heirs of the deceased.

About the displaced persons, the statement said the government would like to make a commitment that displaced persons, if any, would be settled to the satisfaction of all concerned.

In order to address the concerns of the people of Balochistan in a manner acceptable to them leading to the development of the province in all fields of life, the statement recalled that the government had granted provincial autonomy through an amendment to the Constitution which was a long cherished dream and demand of leaders of Balochistan.

Similarly, the 7th NFC Award and Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package were announced. Criminal cases against various political leaders of Balochistan, including Sardar Mengal who was released during the tenure of the present government, have been withdrawn and their names removed from the exit control list. Right of the people of Balochistan on natural resources was accepted by making necessary amendments to the Constitution.

The government, the statement said, had always believed and still believed in political dialogue with the Baloch leadership having differences. Differences are part of a democratic process.

“Differences, if any, would not allow anyone who is a patriotic citizen of Pakistan to speak against the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan,” the statement said.

The chief justice observed that there should be political will to resolve the Balochistan issue and said the president, prime minister and the chiefs of PML-N and PTI would have to endeavour to find a political solution.

The court said it would not like to comment on the statement of Sardar Mengal but described his return to the country as a great breakthrough.

Before postponing the proceedings to Oct 8 in Quetta, the court directed the provincial government to submit weekly reports on measures taken to curb target killings and maintain law and order in the province.