SC orders Balochistan govt to compensate missing persons’ heirs
QUETTA: The Supreme Court in an interim order issued on Friday ruled that the Balochistan government compensate the heirs of the province's missing persons, 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.
The court, after hearing the petition on the law and order situation and human rights violations in Balochistan at its Quetta registry, ruled that the provincial government had failed to establish law and order in the province and had lost its legitimacy to govern.
The bench further stated that human rights were being routinely violated in Balochistan, adding that, the Frontier Corps (FC) had also been ineffective in stemming the violence.
The court stated that fingers were continually being pointed at the FC in missing persons’ cases, adding that, evidence pointing to involvement of intelligence agencies had been found in the province.
Earlier during the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar said that the judiciary’s past decisions were now a part of history, adding that, the institution would no longer protect any unlawful and unconstitutional measures.
The chief justice moreover said that the government appeared to have no writ in Balochistan, adding that, tortured bodies were being found in the restive province.
He further said that over 400 personnel of the FC had died in the unrest.
Addressing Advocate General Balochistan Amanullah Kinrani, the chief justice said that the law officer should tell the provincial government that it had a faulty approach.
Kinrani said Balochistan’s security situation had deteriorated after the killing of nationalist leader Akbar Bugti.
In a dialogue with the DIG of CID police, the chief justice said that the CID had been directed to operate across Balochistan, adding that, he hoped that the institution would fulfill its responsibilities and produce satisfactory results.