Passing an interim order in the Balochistan law and order case, the Supreme Court on Friday said the Balochistan government should compensate the heirs of the missing Baloch people.
A three-member SC bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja was hearing a petition filed by the Balochistan Bar Association concerning law and order in the province.
After hearing the petition against violations of law and human rights at the SC Quetta Registry, the bench ruled that the provincial government had failed to establish law and order in the province, recover missing persons and end incidents of dumping of mutilated bodies and abduction for ransom and had lost its legitimacy to govern.
The bench ordered the government to take constitutional steps to restore peace in the province. The chief justice said human rights were being routinely violated across Balochistan, adding that the Frontier Corps (FC) had also been ineffective in stemming the violence. The court said fingers were continually being pointed at the FC in the missing persons’ cases and evidence pointing to the involvement of intelligence agencies had also been presented.
Earlier during the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said the judiciary’s past decisions were now a part of history and the institution would no longer protect unlawful and unconstitutional measures.
He said the government appeared to have no writ in Balochistan, as bodies with torture marks were being found across the province every other day, but the responsibility had not been affixed.
The CJ said over 400 personnel of the FC had been killed in the unrest.
Addressing Balochistan Advocate General Amanullah Kinrani, the chief justice said the law officer should tell the provincial government that it had a faulty approach.
The judges endorsed the decision of the high court regarding banned outfits, adding that the government was facing corruption allegations and it should take measures in this regard.
The CJ said the National Finance Commission (NFC) had given hefty sum for the province’s development, but it was unclear where the money had gone.
Kinrani said Balochistan’s security situation had deteriorated after the killing of nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.
In a dialogue with the CID police DIG, the chief justice said the CID had been directed to operate across Balochistan, hoping that the institution would fulfil its responsibilities and produce satisfactory results.
The bench said the federal and provincial government had not cooperated with the court despite assurances. It also barred agencies from issuing transit permits of illegal arms and vehicles. The case will now be taken up on October 31.
