QUETTA, Sept 7: The Supreme Court said on Friday it was not satisfied with a report submitted by the Balochistan government on missing persons and ordered immediate cancellation of all permits (Rahdaris) issued for illegal weapons and smuggled vehicles in the province.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Khilji Arif Hussain is hearing a petition on the law and order situation, human rights violations and missing persons in the Quetta registry of the apex court. “Half of the crimes can be controlled if illegal weapons and smuggled vehicles are seized; these are being used in target killings and other crimes,” the chief justice said and ordered that the list of Rahdaris be submitted to the court.

The chief justice expressed annoyance over the absence of Defence Secretary Maj-Gen (retd) Arshad Abbasi.

Advocate General Amanullah Kanrani informed the court that the secretary had left for Islamabad.

“How he can leave for Islamabad without informing the court,” the chief justice asked and ordered him to appear before the court on Saturday, along with the interior secretary.

The court was also angry over the absence of Colonel Arshad, commandant of Frontier Corps Dera Bugti, and said his leave should be cancelled immediately and he should appear on Saturday, along with Kaho Bugti, who has been missing for a long time.

The order was issued after an FC lawyer informed the court that the commandant was on a 15-day leave.

The chief justice regretted that the law and order had worsened in Quetta and other parts of the province, but the government and its institutions had failed to fulfil their responsibilities. Kidnapping for ransom, target killings and disappearances of people were continuing in the province, but there was no progress on part of the government and security agencies in stopping them, he said.

“If our institutions properly investigate cases and make efforts to recover the missing persons it will be a good sign for the country. But there is no security and today a police officer was shot dead,” the chief justice said.

He said there should be a grand crackdown on elements creating unrest and were involved in the crimes. “There will be no improvement until strict action is taken against the criminals.”

FC Inspector General Maj-Gen Obaidullah Khan Khattak informed the court that his force was taking all steps to improve law and order and restore the writ of state. “Frontier Corps will soon launch an operation, along with other law-enforcement agencies, against the criminals.”