The Supreme Court has rejected the Balochistan government’s report on the recent Quetta carnage, saying appropriate measures for the arrest of the terrorists behind the attack were not being taken.
The three-member SC bench resumed the hearing into the suo motu case on the killings of Hazaras in Quetta. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry presided over the proceedings.
The CJP said Quetta was very a peaceful city but its tranquility had been destroyed by bomb blasts and targeted killings.
“Nobody can compensate for the loss of lives. The chief secretary should tell the court how the government will bring back normalcy to the province,” he added.
The court said the government was making no effort to find out why were the Hazaraz being targeted.
The Balochistan advocate general appeared before the court on behalf of the provincial government and said the Balochistan government was making all-out efforts to control the law and order in the province, adding that the process of reorganisation of law enforcement agencies was also underway. He said checkposts had been put up in the inner parts of Quetta.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed asked whether CCTV cameras were installed or not. The AG said the installation of CCTV cameras at important points of the city was in the pipeline. The security of HazaraTown had also been enhanced, he said, adding that operations against terrorists group were going on and the government was also giving relief to the affected.
The bench said the report revealed that the government had not taken any solid action against the terrorists. “It is the prime responsibility of the government to provide protection to each and every citizen and it is bound to safeguard the life and property of the citizens under Article 9 of the constitution.”
Shia leader Allama Abbas Kumaili told the court that Hazaras and Punjabis were leaving the province as they were not protected there.
The court sought a fresh report from the chief secretary, the IG and the FC commandant.
Later, the proceedings were adjourned until March 6.