Chief Justice calls for action against criminals in Balochistan
By: Saleem Shahid
QUETTA: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry asked the home secretary and the inspector general of police on Thursday to launch a major crackdown on elements creating law and order problem in Balochistan.
Law enforcement agencies should go with full force against the elements opposed to peace in the province, he said during the hearing of a petition on law and order and human rights violations in Balochistan at his chamber in the Quetta registry of the Supreme Court. He also referred to the abduction of Dr Ghulam Rasool, a psychiatrist in the Bolan Medical College Hospital, and his recovery through a ‘specific way’.
The chief justice expressed annoyance over law enforcement agencies’ inability to recover the abducted people and said:
“Recovery of the kidnapped people after the payment of ransom or efforts by tribal elders has shown that there is no writ of the government in Balochistan as law enforcement agencies could not provide protection to the life and property of citizens.”
The CJP rejected a report submitted by Home Secretary Nasibullah Bazai, Inspector General Tariq Omar Khitab and Advocate General of Balochistan Amanullah Kanrani on the recovery of the psychiatrist, law and order and missing persons.
“No abducted person was recovered or got released with the efforts of the government,” the chief justice observed. He said the government had left the people of Balochistan at the mercy of kidnappers, criminals and anti-social elements.
Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Zahoor Shahwani and Sajid Tareen, an advocate, appeared before the court as counsel in the abduction case.
The chief justice regretted that since there was no rule of the Constitution and the law in Balochistan, anti-social elements were carrying out anti-peace activities without any fear.
The law and order situation in the province was disappointing and drastic measures were needed to make people safe and secure, he said, adding that irrespective of their influence, criminals must be dealt with in accordance with the law. The chief justice expressed annoyance over the law and order situation in the province, non-recovery of missing persons and display of arms, asking the authorities to ensure protection of life and property of people.
He directed the home secretary and the IG to take action against non-registered and smuggled vehicles and display of weapons.
The chief justice asked the Federal Board of Revenue chairman to appear before the court at the next hearing on Sept 3 along with a report suggesting action to be taken against the smuggled and non-custom paid ‘Kabli’ vehicles being used in Balochistan and the number of such vehicles impounded so far.
The home secretary was directed to withdraw extra personnel of the federal and provincial Levies deputed for ministers, MNAs, and MPAs’ security so that they could be posted in other areas.
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