The Supreme Court has rejected the Balochistan governor’s report on the massacre of Hazara community in Quetta, and summoned provincial home secretary, inspector general of police, commandant of the Frontier Corps (FC), and the capital city police officer (CCPO) in Quetta.
On Wednesday, a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Azmat Saeed resumed the hearing of the suo motu case.
The court also asked the president and the prime minister through the Cabinet Division secretary about the taken by them on the reports of intelligence agencies. The interior secretary said that the cabinet secretary was busy in the federal cabinet’s meeting however he would answer the court’s query in person.
On the occasion, it was pleaded that the court may held in-camera proceedings of the case. The court turned down the request.
The CJP said that the masses were dying and the rulers were blowing the trumpet of ease. “Had the government been vigilant, such incidents would not have occurred repeatedly,” the CJP said, adding, “What reply would we give to the innocent small children, whose parents were lost due to the government’s negligence.”
Interior Secretary Khawaja Sadiq Akbar, Commander Shahbaz, defence secretary, director (legal) of the ministry of defence, and other senior officials were present in the court.
The secretaries of interior and defence presented the reports of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in the court.
Commander Shahbaz told the court that the ISI had much earlier informed the provincial government about a threat of terrorism, and two checkposts had been enhanced on Kirani Road due to its report. He said that there was scarcity of water in the area, which the terrorists had exploited by using a water tanker for transporting explosives. He said that hundreds of water tanks travel on the road every day to supply water to the residents of the area.
He said the incident could have been averted if the security officials had performed their duties better. “This is the main reason of security lapse, because the explosives-laden tanker could not be checked and the tragedy occurred,” he added.
The defence ministry’s director told the court that the masterminds had been arrested.
The chief justice asked him if it was the duty of the police and FC because an ambulance had also been used in an act of terrorism. He said the president and the prime minister should produce reports given to them by the intelligence agencies.
The interior secretary said that the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group had accepted the responsibility of the blast. In response, the CJP asked that the liability had been admitted on telephone. “Who is taking action against the culprits,” he enquired.
The defence secretary said that he wanted to bring many things in the knowledge of the court. The chief justice said, “You want to prevent the bench from going to Quetta? It would go there to hear the case.” The court adjourned the hearing until Thursday (today).
