No care for common man: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar observed on Thursday that state institutions did not care for the common man as they considered political cases more important and they discussed them in the evening.

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued directives to Balochistan Chief Secretary and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General to submit a comprehensive report about the recent killings in the province.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a suo moto case regarding killing of people in Balochistan.

Last month, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had taken suo moto notice on media reports on the killing of 20 people in Balochistan whose bullet riddled bodies were found in Turbat and Buleda, Kech District of Balochistan.

As per media reports these persons hailed from different districts of Punjab. They were brought to Balochistan by human traffickers for their further journey to Iran by crossing border illegally.

Taking notice of the matter, the Chief Justice ordered to call detailed report from Balochistan Inspector General of Police and FIA Director General.

On Thursday, FIA DG Bashir Memon, Balochistan Chief Secretary and Advocate General appeared on court notice and submitted reports in pursuance of the court’s order.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar asked the official as to whether incidents like Turbet and others were matter of pride for the institutions, agencies and the nation.

FIA DG Bashir Memon appraised the court that the incident happened near Pak-Iran border. The Chief Justice however, said that as per media reports the persons killed had come from different areas of Punjab.

“What is the role of FIA and why such incidents are happening and why the agencies are ignorant“, the CJP asked.

The Chief Justice further inquired as to why such incidents were happening adding as to what the role of FIA was and why the agencies were unaware. The Chief Justice said that the incidents related to human trafficking.

FIA DG admitted before the court that although they had limited resources to curb the incidents of human trafficking, despite that they while launching a crackdown had arrested human traffickers and put them behind the bars.

The Chief Justice however, observed that the arrested people would get the bails adding that the courts could pass only orders while the institutions concerned were required to ensure implementation of orders of the court in letter and spirit.

The court was informed that the Turbet killings had sectarian and terrorism links and not human smuggling.

Balochistan Chief Secretary submitted before the court that the issue of human trafficking was being tackled seriously and in this respect all the agencies were coordinating on the matter.

He claimed that extremists had been confined to two districts in Balochistan due to action by the agencies.

Meanwhile, the court directed FIA DG and Balochistan Chief Secretary to submit a comprehensive report over the killings as well as measures being taken for the effective control of human trafficking and adjourned further hearing the first week of February.