News
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Court sees constitutional breakdown in Balochistan* SC asks federal, provincial govts to file replies on failure to control law and order
* FC says no missing person in its custody
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Expressing disappointment over the federal and provincial governments’ failure to control the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the province had undergone a constitutional breakdown.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that the federal and provincial governments were not paying attention to the poor law and order situation in the province, asking them to file written replies that they had completely failed in that regard. The court observed that no one wanted to improve the situation of the province and that the case seemed to be a futile exercise.
During the hearing, when the bench asked Balochistan Advocate General Amanuallah Kunrani about recovery of missing persons, he could not give a satisfactory answer.
Expressing disappointment, the chief justice said that same response was being received in every hearing of the case and the court’s orders were not being implemented. He said that situation in the province was worsening day by day as army, Frontiers Corps (FC) and police had done nothing in that regard. He also remarked that Balochistan had already experienced a constitutional breakdown.
During the hearing, Raja Irshad, counsel for FC, submitted a report on behalf of FC on the province’s law and order situation.
The FC in its written statement said that it had conducted internal inquiries and found that missing people were not in its custody.
It said in many cases insurgents dressed in FC uniforms committed “high profile acts of terrorism and heinous crime, which is bringing a bad name to this federal organisation”. Irshad told the court that eight enquiries were being conducted by different lieutenant colonels and that various aspects of the investigations required further probe.
The report said that since January 1, 829 people had died in terrorist attacks in the province, whereas 429 people, including 59 FC officials, had been murdered.
He also demanded that FC be given the power of police for maintaining peace in the province, adding that otherwise a commission should be formed in that regard.
He said that FC’s powers had been restricted through a new ordinance. Similarly, army was not approached for maintaining peace as it had stayed in barracks, he said, and rejected the impression that army was conducting operation in Balochistan.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that complaints relating to the FC should be investigated thoroughly. The chief justice said that FC officials involved in illegal activities should surrender themselves. He also said that the court would make announcement about the persons who had failed to perform their duties in the province. He asked the Balochistan attorney general whether the government had abolished the no-go area in Dera Bugti. Upon this, the attorney general replied that there was no no-go area in Dera Bugti. “Why are the people of the area not returning to their homes?” the chief justice asked. The Balochistan attorney general told the court that the government had devised a strategy to compensate the heirs of missing persons, adding that those who would move an application would get the compensation.
The court will give the final ruling in the Balochistan target killings case today (Wednesday).
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk