F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday sought report from Federal Investigation Agency and Balochistan government over Turbat killings.
A three-member bench headed by the CJP was hearing a suo motu case regarding the killing of 20 people in Balochistan whose bullet-riddled bodies were found in Turbat and Buleda areas last month.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, who was heading the bench, grilled the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon for the agency’s failure in preventing human trafficking cases in the country.
The CJ remarked that the DG should accept the agency failure to prevent the human trafficking cases in the country.
Director General FIA, Chief Secretary Balochistan and Advocate General Balochistan appeared before the court.
They also submitted reports regarding the incident.
The CJP said that the victims of Turbat incident had been brought to the province by human traffickers with the intention of making them cross the Pakistan-Iran border illegally. “Are incidents like these a matter of pride for the institutions, agencies and the nation?” the CJP asked rhetorically at the outset of the hearing.
He questioned why the agencies of the country were “unaware” and what is the FIA’s role in preventing such incidents.
DG FIA told the court that his agency had taken advanced action against human traffickers.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan remarked that in his opinion the DG FIA had the solution to this issue.
“What must the families that received the bodies have gone through?” he asked.
The FIA chief conceded before the court that his agency had limited resources and tools required for investigation into incidents of this nature.
“If you don’t have the resources, accept that you cannot do anything,” the CJP replied.
He said the court could not stay silent just because of lack of resources. Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked which official agencies are cooperating with FIA.
The chief justice asked DG FIA to give the assurance that a similar incident would not take place in the future.
“Preventing the crime before it takes place is the real skill,” he remarked.
The DG FIA claimed that a terrorist organisation had killed the 20 people on ethnic grounds, adding that international gangs also operate in Iran and Turkey besides Pakistan.
The court asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) head and Balochistan government to submit a new report containing details about human smuggling.
“The judiciary is ready to lend its shoulder; you [should] show action,” the CJP told the DG FIA.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan chief secretary told the court that all agencies are coordinating on the matter of human smuggling. Extremists have been confined to two districts in Balochistan due to action by the agencies, he said.
The hearing of the case was adjourned until the first week of February.
It is to be mentioned here that the chief justice had taken suo motu notice of media reports regarding the Balochistan killings last month.
