SC orders clean up operation against LeJ

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heading a three-member bench hearing the Hazara killings suo motu case, said that the court would not order for the deployment of army in Balochistan and added it would not go beyond its limit, Geo News reported.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the case on Tuesday here.

Balochistan Advocate General and Deputy Attorney General appeared before the court.

Chief Justice said that it was such a great tragedy, which has sent the country paralysed and inquired is it the performance of the government? He said Article 9 of the constitution not being followed and the government remained unmoved and inactive.

CJ recalled that such an incident had also occurred a month ago and inquired from Balochistan AG how many accused were arrested?

Balochistan AG replied that four suspects were killed in a search operation today.

CJ in his remarks said that the Shia community was protesting all across the country, life has come to standstill and added that he would not order the federal government for the deployment of army in Balochistan, the court would not cross the limit.

Advocate Tariq Asad making a plea for the enforcement of Article 245 of the constitution said, “If we continue to save the democracy, then lives would not be saved.”

CJ said we would protect the fundamental rights of the people.

Justice Azmat Saeed observed that the provincial government was sleeping.

Deputy Attorney General replied that the federal government has removed the provincial government.

CJ in his remarks inquired whether removing the government solves the problem?

Deputy AG stated that FIR of the incident has been registered to which CJ said how that FIR was registered, we are aware of it and added do you think that sitting in four/five buildings at Shahrah-e-Dastoor governance being done?

Deputy AG said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has accepted the responsibility of this incident.

CJ expressing his annoyance ordered the Deputy AG to go and catch hold of them and added by this time the clean up operation should have been done.

CJ thanked God that sectarianism didn’t break out, the people of the country are wise, he appreciated.