All must be equal before the Court
A positive development emanating out of the Supreme Court hearings on Balochistan is the gradual waking up of the police to its responsibilities. The CID is showing signs of effectiveness. A Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) spokesman died in an encounter as he tried to escape the police dragnet last month. That the terrorists are feeling the heat is indicated by attacks on police officers two of whom, an SSP and an Inspector, were gunned down within days this month. The police is also more cooperative with the Supreme Court now. On Friday, the DIG Quetta informed the apex court that it is in possession of a CCTV film which shows FC taking away three missing Baloch from outside a hotel in Quetta. This is a serious charge that the DG FC needs to answer.
While one sees the police trying to improve its performance, what remains worrisome is the attitude of the high officials of the security agencies. DG FC and the regional chief of the ISI declined to appear before the court in Quetta despite being called last month. The former was reported to be busy in meetings while the later was supposedly out of Quetta. On Saturday, the Supreme Court was told by an FC Major that DG FC was busy in meetings and could not appear before the bench. This is unacceptable. When the PM who being the chief executive of the country should be the busiest person can appear before the Supreme Court thrice, why can’t a Brigadier of the FC not show similar respect to the apex court? Discipline is supposed to be the foremost quality of an army. The failure to appear before the court indicates that there is something wrong somewhere. Rule of law implies that all are equal before law, irrespective of their social standing. Are some people supposed to be more equal than others? The mindset of the sort can only damage the image of the premier institution of the state.
One will agree with the SC that in matters of law no institution is bigger than the Supreme Court. What this implies is that others should accord it due respect.
