SC gives FC one week to present missing persons
11 July, 2012
QUETTA: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has told the Frontier Corps (FC) to present the missing persons within a week.
He also renewed his remarks that every third person was claiming that the missing persons were picked up by the FC personnel.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, consisting 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 on the situation of law and order in Balochistan.
The CJ asked FC lawyer Raja Irshad why the corps was not taking action against the Ferrari Camps. The lawyer informed the bench that no one was in the custody of the FC.
On this, the CJ said that in every third case, people were pointing fingers at the FC. The bench ordered the corps to present missing person Abdul Malik before it. " FC Chaghai commander should come tomorrow and tell us about the whereabouts of Abdul Malik."
On this, the lawyer said that he had asked every commander about the missing persons, and repeated that not even a single missing person was in their custody.
He said the FC did not have a network to track down the missing persons, adding that the police should investigate the matter. "We are ready to cooperate with them (police)," the lawyer said.
Justices Jawwad said that the situation in Balochistan was unfortunate. The FC lawyer said that the corps did not have enmity with anyone, adding that conspiracy was being hatched against the corps. On this, the CJ told the lawyer not to level allegations against anyone, saying, "We have evidence here against the FC."
The chief secretary requested the court to give him time to look into the cases. Justice Jawwad remarked that the people should know the reality.
Munjib Paracha, a correspondent for the Defence Department, told the bench that the Frontier Corps, as an organisation, was not involved in any kidnappings or in the missing persons' case. He also sought time to for an internal inquiry.
"There is a possibility that some group, attired in FC uniforms, was involved in the kidnappings," he said.
During the hearing, Balochistan Advocate General Amanullah Kanrani told the court that 101 persons had been killed in the province in the month of June alone. "Fifteen police personnel and 86 citizens were killed in targeted killings," the AG said.
Capital City Police Officer Mir Zubair Ahmed told the bench the police were taking action against different organisations, adding that the department was facing many challenges. "Every shade of people, including policemen, are being killed in Quetta," the CCPO said, adding that "we have made a new strategy for Quetta, and very soon, the result will come". The home sectary informed the court that at least 25 target killers had been killed, and that 771 people were deployed in the Levies Force.
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