- Army assures SC of trial of its officers under Army Act in Balochistan missing persons’ case
- SC seeks DNA reports of dead bodies recovered from mass graves in Khuzdar in 24 hours
The federal government and counsel for Frontier Corps (FC) have told Supreme Court (SC) that a requisition has been sent to the army for trial of two army officers; Maj Saif and Maj Moin, allegedly involved in enforced disappearance while the army has also assured the initiation of proceedings against the officers.
During the hearing of Balochistan violence case by a three-member SC bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk Tuesday, the counsels told the court that trial of these two army officers will be started soon.
The court has sought DNA test reports within 24 hours from the Balochistan government in respect of dead bodies recovered from mass graves in Khuzdar and other areas of Balochistan.
Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked, “The chief secretary has become so strong that he did not bother to attend the meetings with other authorities despite court’s orders. Government of Balochistan should tell the court in clear terms if it has no interest in the cases of missing persons. Balochistan is burning and government is sitting unmoved. Appropriate steps will have to be taken to save the future of Balochistan.”
Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked, “Government of Balochistan is making somewhat futile efforts for recovery of missing persons. Enforced disappearance of any one cannot be allowed. Law and Constitution make the state responsible for protecting life and property of people. Will people come from outside to take care of the citizens if government does not care for them?”
Balochistan Advocate General (AG) Nizam ud Din, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Attique Shah, Nasrullah Baloch, chief of organisation on recovery of missing persons, and other authorities appeared in the court.
Counsel for FC DG, Irfan Qadir told the court he had met the authorities but he could not meet chief secretary and he had talked to latter by telephone only. He told the court that two cases would be tried under the Army Act. The role of provincial government stands no more in these cases, he added.
The Balochistan AG told the court that no headway has been made in missing persons’ case.
The court was informed that the tribunal working on mass graves’ case had sought additional 2-month time.
Nasrullah Baloch told the court that DNA test does not take as much time as it was being spent on it. “I have talked to surgeon who says DNA test takes 10 to 15 days.”
The hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday.
