Islamabad: Pakistan`s Supreme Court has directed the ISI and Military Intelligence to submit reports on the security situation in Balochistan, including on the "senseless and indiscriminate" killings in the restive province.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Mian Shakiurullah Jan yesterday ordered the military intelligence agencies to submit the reports by March 07.
The order was issued after the bench decided to consider the government`s request to hear the intelligence agencies on the situation in Balochistan behind closed doors, media reports said.
The court`s order came against the backdrop of renewed international interest in the situation in Balochistan after a US Congressman tabled a bill in the House of Representatives seeking the right to self-determination for Baloch people.
The Pakistan government has angrily dismissed the bill as an attack on the country`s sovereignty. Several Baloch groups have alleged that over 200 activists have been killed by intelligence agencies after being illegally detained over the past two years.
Pakistan`s security establishment has denied the charges. The apex Court issued its order while hearing a petition filed by former Balochistan High Court Bar Association president Hadi Shakeel on the breakdown of law and order, targeted killings and kidnapping for ransom in the province.
On January 27, a different bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry too had ordered the two intelligence agencies to submit reports on the indiscriminate killings in Balochistan.
During yesterday`s proceedings, Attorney General Anwar-ul-Haq submitted a written statement on behalf of the intelligence agencies that sought an in-camera hearing on the situation in Balochistan.
Haq said the situation in Balochistan was very complex and the intelligence agencies wanted more time to compile a comprehensive report.
He further told the bench that he had conveyed the court`s earlier directive to the ISI and Military Intelligence to submit their reports but they wanted more time to comply with the order.
The bench rejected a report submitted by Sindh`s Additional Advocate General on the killings of two relatives of a top Baloch leader in Karachi and described the findings of a probe as equivalent to "zero".
The bench summoned the Sindh Police chief on March 07 to explain to the court why he had not properly supervised the investigation.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik had on Wednesday announced that cases against Baloch nationalist leaders living abroad in self-exile would be withdrawn if they come back and hold talks with government.
PTI
