Pakistan Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Thursday reprimanded Balochistan Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Tahir Rai, questioning him over the “business of injustice” being conducted which “brought the country to the brink of disaster”. .
He made the remarks during a three-member hearing of a suo motu case regarding the targeted killings of Hazara people and a petition seeking recovery of missing persons.
The wife of one of the missing persons, Ali Raza, informed the Supreme Court that her husband was missing since 2013, while the police released the suspect in the case.
Hearing this, CJP Gulzar expressed anger at the IGP and questioned: “What is this – a person has been missing for seven years and the police has done nothing?”
In response, the IGP informed the court that the matter was with Levy for three years.
“What did you do after you got the case?” The Chief Justice questioned. “The police are not interested in the investigation. Do you know what the investigation is? [even] Meaning?” He groaned.
When the IGP of Balochistan informed the court that the missing person would be recovered soon, CJP Ahmed expressed his objection. He said, “Why were you given the uniform? You don’t care about anyone.”
The Advocate General of Balochistan told the court that the investigation would be completed if Ali Raza’s family cooperated. To this, the Chief Justice said that the families will cooperate only if they trust the government officials.
“Evidence of a crime disappears within 24 hours. The police keep waiting [bribes] to start the investigation. You (police) do not respect the sanctity of your uniform. Police don’t do what they’re assigned to do [but] start doing something else.
“The business of injustice is being carried on. The country has been brought to the brink of disaster. Anyone who is suspicious is brought [court] is acquitted because the investigation is wrong,” he further remarked.
SC orders
While adjourning the matter for a month, the Supreme Court directed the authorities to recover and produce Ali Raza in the next hearing and ensure the safety of Hazara community in Balochistan.
It ordered the authorities to arrest and produce those involved in Raza’s abduction, warning that irresponsibility would not be tolerated by any security agency in recovering the missing person.
Further, the court directed the authorities to arrest those involved in the kidnapping of four members of the Hazara community, who have been recovered.
It also directed that members of the Hazara community should be compensated for the problems faced in obtaining passports.
“The Government of Balochistan should constitutionally deal with the extremist elements. The security of every community in Quetta and Balochistan should be ensured,” the court directed.
Last year the Supreme Court relaxed me An unsatisfactory police report on the targeted killings of the Hazara community as well as the missing persons and dismissed it.
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