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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has sought the response from the civil and military leaderships in the Balochistan law and order and missing persons case Thursday, Geo News reported.
A three-member bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain resumed the hearing of petition regarding worst law and order situation in the province filed by Balochistan High Court Bar Association.
Former Chief Minister Balochistan and chief of Balochistan National Party (BNP) Sardar Akhtar Mengal appeared in the court today to assist the bench on the issue of missing persons.
During today’s proceedings, the BNP leader in his statement said that he has seen a ray of hope after 65 years on the matter of missing persons that has now gained international importance. Mengal said that his brother Asadullah Mengal was kidnapped in 1976 and could not be recovered to date. He said that the people of Balochistan were given false hopes.
Mengal continued saying that the situation in Balochistan is worst than Palestine. He said that the real leadership was removed from the province and a fake leadership was imposed on Baloch nationals. He said that the mutilated bodies that were found from different areas were of political workers and not of Sardars or Nawabs. He alleged that the ‘death squads’ of intelligence agencies are exterminating the nationalists.
The BNP leader also urged for the arrest of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s killers. He said that the issue will not be resolved without talking proper action.
The chief justice, in his remarks, said that the matter of missing persons is a big question mark. He said that the nation will observe that how far the court can go in resolving the matter.
Justice Khilji remarked that Akhtar Mehgal’s presence has proved that he is not anti-Pakistan.
The chief secretary Balochistan told the bench that all the civil leaders including the prime minister have been apprised about the matter and the provincial governor is taking interest in the issue.
On Mengal’s statement, the court sought response from the IG FC, chief secretary Balochistan, federal secretaries of interior and defence.
The SC also sought response from the civil and military leadership including the president, prime minister, Army chief, ISI and Military Intelligence by tomorrow (Friday).
The chief justice warned that if the orders were not implemented, the SC would conduct hearing on case-to-case basis. He said that the law allows to form a trial court comprising high court judges.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing till Friday.
The Baloch leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal had arrived in Islamabad from Dubai on Wednesday after eight years to become party in the case and record his statement.
It is worth mentioning here that on last hearing, vice president of BNP Sajid Tareen informed the court that Akhtar Mengal wants to become party in the case and would arrive Islamabad on September 26.
The court accepted Akhtar Mengal’s application and directed the federal interior secretary to provide security and other facilities to the Baloch leader during his stay in Islamabad.
link: http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-69334-Civil,-military-leadership-response-soug