Worsening security situation in Balochistan

Govt should take practical steps: CJP

* SC directs Balochistan chief secretary to suggest measures to ensure fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens of province

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The government should take practical steps instead of issuing policy statements regarding targeted killings in Balochistan, remarked Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as the Supreme Court resumed the hearing on a petition filed over the rising incidents of abductions and targeted killings in the province.

Proceeding with the plea filed by the Balochistan High Court Bar Association (BHCBA) president, the three-member apex court bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, directed the federal and Balochistan governments to take practical steps over the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan.

The court also summoned the Balochistan chief secretary on March 8 and ordered the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) to furnish their reports through the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) over the situation in the province. It also reissued a notice to the Frontier Constabulary (FC) inspector general while ordering the authorities concerned to step up efforts for the recovery of missing persons and submit a progress report in this respect.

The bench directed the Balochistan chief secretary to suggest measures to the federal government as well as the court to help it hand down an order to ensure enforcement of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the people of Balochistan.

The court had, on the last hearing, observed that the situation of law and order required to be tackled in accordance with the constitution and law.

On Wednesday, the court ruled that under Article 9 of the constitution, it was the prime duty of the federal and provincial governments to take steps for ensuring protection to the life and property of the people without discrimination.

At the outset of the proceedings, AGP Maulvi Anwarul Haq informed the court that the federal government was serious in restoring peace in Balochistan and that the prime minister had also discussed the issue on the floor of the National Assembly. He also submitted a copy of the prime minister’s speech to the court. The petitioner, President Hadi Shakeel Ahmed, told the court that although most of the Balochistan ministers were heads of different jirgas, no efforts were being made to improve security situation in the province. He said that until now, the Balochistan chief minister had not even called a single cabinet meeting over the matter.

The CJP observed that due to the deteriorating security situation, the people of Balochistan had started migrating (to other provinces).

Balochistan Advocate General, Salahuddin Mengal, informed the court that the Balochistan governor had requested Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani to launch a military operation in the province. He told the court that FC officials were picking up citizens in broad daylight.

Upon this, the CJP asked him to submit a written statement to the court, which would then summon the FC commander. Further hearing was adjourned until March 8, after the bench held that due to the seriousness of the issue, it could not put off for an indefinite period.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C03%5C03%5Cstory_3-3-2011_pg7_1