Security forces be stripped of powers in Balochistan: Asma

SCBA president says strategic location of Balochistan can invite international conspiracies

By Mohammad Zafar

QUETTA: Supreme Court Bar Association President Asma Jehangir has challenged the authority of the security forces in Balochistan, saying the forces be stripped of powers in the best interest of the national integrity and solidarity.

Addressing the Balochistan High Court Bar members on Tuesday, she referred to the dominating role of the security forces in the province, which she said were undermining the authority of the elected government.

She said that Balochistan’s stability was at stake due to its strategic location, which could easily be exploited by the international forces. “Divisions have been created among the people as sectarian target killings, recovery of mutilated bodies, mostly of the missing persons, and target killing of Punjabi-speaking people are frequently taking place,” she said, adding that “I just want to remind that the people living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are not the only Pakistanis but the people of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also Pakistanis.” They should be treated as Pakistanis also, she told her audience.

She stressed that the problem of Balochistan be treated on priority basis otherwise this will be an ideal land for international forces to play their dirty tricks. “This province is more vulnerable and can be used by international forces, therefore, appropriate steps are desperately needed to settle all the pressing issues,” she said.

Asma said that the vacant posts of judges in the Supreme Court and the High Court must be filled up before the next elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association. “The judiciary had used its influence during the last elections. Therefore, this time posts must be filled before the elections so that it could not affect the elections,” she said, adding that the judiciary is not playing its due role. “Bar welcomes the steps by judiciary to keep a check on the executive but will oppose its monitoring role,” she said.

Commenting on notice served on her by the Balochistan High Court; she said that Article 199 of the constitution states that high courts do not exercise power to take suo motu notice.

She alleged that the chief justice had asked her and the bar general secretary to issue a statement against International Commission of Jurists but she refused to do so.

“I will not compromise over the bar’s affairs nor will allow anyone to use his influence,” she said. Referring to the all parties’ conference convened by the prime minister, Asma said that the government should make all decisions public.

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