News
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Evidence exists against FC in missing persons’ case: SC* CJP says court cannot shut its eyes to missing persons’ issue
* FC chief denies his force involved in forced disappearances; says someone impersonating FC
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday said that there existed evidence that the Frontier Corps (FC) was involved in abducting people in Balochistan
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, hearing Balochistan target killings’ case, told the FC inspector general that respect for the force was waning gradually, as 95 percent of the people in Balochistan had alleged that FC was involved in the picking up of civilians in the province. The chief justice said that missing persons are the key issue of the province, and the court cannot shut its eyes to it since there was evidence suggesting FC involvement.
FC IG Major General Obaidullah Khan Khattak denied his force’s involvement in incidences of forced disappearance, and in response to CCTV footage played in the court that showed three missing persons being taken away in FC vehicle, he said someone impersonating as FC men had picked up the three. He said a search was under way to trace the men and assured all-out efforts for their recovery.
Khattak contended that the footage showed only the rear side of the vehicle and did not qualify as evidence of abduction. In the last 18 months, he said, 1,931 attacks had been carried out against police and the FC, and militants claimed responsibility for 886 of them. To this, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked, “Don’t give excuse of impersonation as we have to proceed logically.” The chief justice told the FC chief that the court did not deny the sacrifices being made by the FC but the force should maintain its confidence among the public. He further said that there is contradiction between the government’s and FC statement over the issue.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk