News
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Intelligence agencies are answerable to courts: SC* Court directs Balochistan chief secretary to seek help from ISI, MI and IB to control law and order in province
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) directed Balochistan chief secretary on Tuesday to take ISI, MI and IB into confidence prior to controlling law and order situation in the province, as these institutions were also answerable to the courts.
A two-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, heard the petition filed by the Balochistan High Court Bar Association (BHCBA) President, Hadi Shakeel, under Article 184(3) of the constitution, making the federal government along with nine others as respondents.
The court noted there was no coordination among various departments of the government when it came to maintaining law and order.
The CJP said that at least the chief secretary and the home secretary of the province should be aware of whereabouts of misssing persons.
Shakeel, the petitioner, remarked that people in the province were convinced that their near and dear ones had been picked up by the personnel of intelligence agencies.
The chief secretary informed the court that delimitation of constituencies was in progress in the province.
The CJP remarked that these were the components of a long-term planning. “Now you should take some short-term measures, because if the governor, chief secretary and Balochistan IGP are not safe then how come an ordinary citizen would feel safe,” he queried.
The Balochistan AG stated that police was deputed only in 15 percent areas of the province, while rest of the province was controlled by Levies, which were under the control of the federal government.
The chief secretary said the government was also working on political lines and planning to convene jirgas at division level.
Justice Ghulam Rabbani said that there were 6,000 jobs to be filled in the federal government departments.
He inquired how many Baloch youth were accommodated in those departments. The chief secretary said that 5,000 locals were accommodated.
The Balochistan government has recommended that all the state agencies should adhere to the laws for containing the collapse of law and order situation in the province.
Balochistan Advocate General (AG) and Balochistan chief secretary on Tuesday presented a report before the (SC) about the law and order situation in Balochistan and collection of data about various crimes as well as suggestions to keep the situation normal.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk