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Balochistan case: SC orders crackdown against transit arms, vehicles
QUETTA: The Supreme Court (SC) resumed hearing of Balochistan law and order case at its Quetta Registry Saturday and ordered police and Frontier Corps (FC) to launch a crackdown against illegal arms and vehicles in three days, Geo News reported.
A three-member 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 Balochistan.
During today’s proceedings, the chief justice remarked that the entire proceedings were in the national interest and it does not make any difference if any one does not approve that. The court will conclude this case as soon as possible as it will be troublesome if matters would fell into others’ hands.
The deputy attorney general told the court that order regarding permits has been implemented.
The court questioned the defense secretary if the agencies could lawfully issue permits. The secretary told that IG Police has been contacted and told to arrest the permit holders. He further told that a high level meeting would be called to address the issue.
At this point, the chief justice ordered police and FC to initiate a crackdown against the transit permit holders in three days. The defense secretary told the court to give them chance and that they will not disappoint the court as they have already started action.
CCPO Quetta Mir Zubair told the court that special branch and police cannot issue the transit permits and intelligence agencies including ISI, and MI issue them.
The chief justice inquired about the Dera Bugti commandant on which FC lawyer told that his leaves have been cancelled and that is why he could not appear in the court. On this, the chief justice asked the lawyer to present the cancellation order in the court.
Later, the hearing was adjourned till September 19. The further hearing will take place in Islamabad.
On Friday, the SC issued an interim order declaring the provincial government and FC report relating to the missing persons unsatisfactory.
Chief Justice Iftikhar reiterated that the bench had directed that missing persons be produced, adding that, the provincial government had failed to improve the security situation. The chief justice directed the provincial government and lawyer of FC to present the comprehensive report regarding missing persons till today (Saturday).
Targeted killings and kidnappings for ransom were still ongoing in the province, the chief justice said.
Courtesy www.geo.tv