Incompetence of security bodies led to Quetta carnage: SC

QUETTA: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Tuesday termed the incompetence of institutions providing security to the Civil Hospital, Quetta, responsible for the suicide attack in August that killed at least 70 people, most of them lawyers.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Faisal Arab resumed the hearing of a suo moto case on the Quetta carnage at the Balochistan High Court on August 08.

Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha, the Inspector General Police (IGP), Balochistan, Ahsan Mehboob, and Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Abdul Rehman Miankhel, submitted separate inquiry reports into the attack. The Investigation Officer (IO) informed the court that so far the statements of 36 out of 82 people injured in the attack had been recorded.

During the proceedings, the IGP requested the court to allow him to give an in-camera briefing to the apex court on the suicide attack to which the court agreed.Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked that incompetence of institutions providing security to the Civil Hospital, Quetta, responsible for the suicide attack in August that killed at least 70 people, most of them lawyers.

An apex court judge Justice Amir Hani Muslim, during the hearing, observed that a medical superintendent of the Civil Hospital, who failed to cooperate in the inquiry, was still at his post. The apex court expressed displeasure over the performance of law enforcement agencies and the hospital administration for failing to avert the catastrophe.

Justice Muslim, on the information provided by the IO, said the IGP and IO do not know about the incident, so who could be trusted. Justice Muslim also asked Chief Secretary Chattha why a trauma centre without a single piece of equipment had been inaugurated. The hospital’s trauma centre has been closed for over two years.

Senior lawyer Hamid Khan, speaking to journalists after the court proceedings, termed all reports a pack of lies and alleged that law enforcers failed to protect innocent citizens. He announced that the legal fraternity would cooperate with the apex court and provide video reports and other evidence to the court.

Senior lawyer Ahmed Ali Kurd, during the proceedings, observed that there had been no outcome as yet to the suo motu notice taken by the judiciary. He urged the apex court to ensure the proceedings were result-oriented. CJP Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked that if the government fails to implement any verdict of the court, then the judiciary cannot be held responsible. He cited the examples of the Karachi law and order situation and the NRO cases in this regard.Further hearing of that case was adjourned until October 6.