Balochistan case:Attorney General resigns - PakistanToday.com.pk

QUETTA - Deputy Attorney General Malik Sikander on Tuesday resigned from his position before a bench of the Supreme Court hearing the Balochistan law and order and missing persons’ case.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussian and Justice Jawad S. Khwaja was hearing a petition on the law and order situation and human rights violations in Balochistan at the Quetta registry of Supreme Court, a private TV channel reported.

Chief Secretary to Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, Hafiz Abdul Basit, appeared before the bench.

The deputy attorney general told the bench that he had delivered the court’s summons to the relevant authorities.

Addressing Sikander, Justice Khilji said: “You think that the problems of 17 crore people would be solved by 17 judges…why are others not fulfilling their responsibilities?” Sikander did not respond to the court’s questions.

Chief Justice Iftikhar said “we do not want lip service…we want the orders to be implemented.”

The chief minister should have appeared before the bench himself, the chief justice said, adding that by this time, Raisani should have sacked six ministers from the Balochistan cabinet.

“We want to save Balochistan…the law and order situation in the province is alarming and kidnappings and targeted killings are still going on,” Justice Iftikhar said.

The police have “failed to apprehend a single suspect” in these incidents, he said, adding that allegations were continually being made against the Frontier Corps (FC) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

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SC directs IG FC, IG Balochistan to submit joint statement - DAWN.com

Supreme Court of Pakistan. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed Inspector General Balochistan Police and Inspector General Frontier Corps Maj-Gen Obaidullah Khattak to submit a joint statement in the case pertaining to the law and order situation in Balochistan and the missing persons issue in the province, DawnNews reported.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, heard the case.

During today’s hearing, Maj-Gen Khattak appeared before the court.

He told the court that the Rangers and the FC had come under militant attacks 800 times.

Responding to which, Chief Justice Iftikhar said: “If you are defending certain measures taken, the court still cannot shut its eyes to them.”

The chief justice moreover said that there was evidence showing that the FC was involved in abducting missing persons.

Furthermore, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain told Maj-Gen Khattak that fingers were being pointed at him.

Maj-Gen Khattak denied the accusations and said the FC was itself looking for missing persons.

Responding to which, Chief Justice Iftikhar said “who should one turn to if the Rangers and the police fail to recover the missing”.

The court directed Inspector General Balochistan Police and Maj-Gen Khattak to submit a joint statement in the case.

The case’s hearing was later adjourned to May 21.

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SC summons Balochistan CM, home minister in Law ... - PakTribune.com

03 May, 2012

QUETTA: The chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on Wednesday summoned Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani and Home Minister Zafarullah Zehri for today (Thursday) while hearing the case on deteriorating law and order in the province.

The court asked the two to provide, under Article 9 of the constitution, assurances that they would protect the lives of the citizens and put an end to the phenomenon of recovery of bodies in the province. The three-judge bench, whose two other members are Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Pervez, took serious exception to the recovery of two bullet-riddled bodies of missing persons whose relatives appeared before the court on Tuesday.

The court noted that police and provincial government had not been providing assurance to the court regarding the protection of life and property of citizens.

Earlier, the bench asked the Balochistan inspector general of police to give a guarantee that no more bodies will be found in the province. The IG said police will make utmost efforts to ensure the protection of citizens' life, but cannot give any guarantee.

Balochistan Chief Secretary Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad informed the court that the government had convened a meeting on missing persons' issue. He said FC, ISI and MI did not give any response when they were provided with the list of 62 missing persons.

Meanwhile, Justice Tariq Pervez remarked judiciary was not helpless and will go to any extent to ensure the implementation of law. The chief justice said provincial ministers were involved in kidnappings, and categorically stated the court will not sit silent on these issues and will ensure the implementation of constitution.

Meanwhile, a bullet-riddled body was found in Mastung area of Balochistan on Wednesday, police said.

Some passers-by spotted the body and informed police. Police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The body was shifted to Mastung's Civil Hospital. The deceased was identified as Shah Zaman.

"The body had multiple wounds," sources said.

A case had been registered against unidentified people and an investigation was underway. On Tuesday, bodies of two Baloch missing persons, whose relatives appeared before the Supreme Court on Monday, were also found in the Coastal Highway area near District Headquarters Uthal, Lasbela.

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