ISLAMABAD: Top spy agencies of the country on Friday requested the Supreme Court to allow them an in-camera briefing over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan.
Moreover, the Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence once again failed to submit their reports in the court on indiscriminate killings in Balochistan, and sought more time regarding the matter. The court, while granting time until March 7 to both spy agencies, directed them to submit comprehensive investigation reports over the killing of Mir Bakhtiar Domki’s wife and daughter, on the next hearing. A three-member bench was hearing petitions against the target killings, kidnappings for ransom and overall law and order situation in the province; and the killings of Baloch MPA Mir Bakhtiar Domki’s wife and daughter in Karachi. To a court query, Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq said he had conveyed the court’s message to the ISI and MI, but both agencies had sought time for filing their reports after March 5. The attorney general also submitted a written statement on behalf of the intelligence agencies and claimed that it contained sensitive information, on the basis of which heads of both the agencies would like an in-camera briefing in the chambers. Defence Ministry Director (Legal) Commander Shahbaz was also present on the occasion. The bench observed that it would decide whether the proceedings should be conducted in chamber or in open court after receiving the reports. Meanwhile, the court also expressed dissatisfaction over the joint investigation team’s report on the killing of Domki’s family, submitted by the Sindh additional advocate general. Justice Tariq Pervaiz remarked that there was nothing new in the report. Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan observed that the court had directed the police to carry out thorough investigations, whereas, the findings suggested otherwise. “The police have failed to produce tangible results,” he observed. Justice Jan also said that no progress had been made despite a lapse of two weeks, adding that this could bring a bad name to the Sindh Police. – Dailytimes
