SC gives IGFC 10 days to produce seven missing persons | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

SC gives IGFC 10 days to produce seven missing persons

QUETTA: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Friday ordered the Frontier Corps (FC) IG Major General Ubaidullah Khan to produce seven missing persons in the apex court within 10 days, adding that “The IG FC has two choices: either bring missing persons to court or let FC commandants face punishment orders from the court”.

Hearing the missing persons’ cases here for the fifth consecutive day, the CJ ordered the Balochistan Home Secretary Naseebullah Bazai to ensure peace and free movement of people in Dera Bugti and submit a report within a week.

Major General Ubaidullah Khan appeared before the apex court to record his statement. The chief justice told the IG FC that there were serious allegations regarding missing persons against the FC. He also referred to the report of the Noshki sessions judge, saying the report could not be ignored.

Upon this, the FC IG said he respected the court, adding that the FC was extending cooperation to the provincial government in the cases of missing persons and all FC commandants had also been issued directives in this regard.

Major General Ubaidullah Khan said he assured the families that every possible step would be taken to trace missing persons. “I would have brought missing persons to court had they been in the custody of FC,” he added.

However, the chief justice remarked that Khan knew the inside story of how ‘certain people’ were being accused of defaming ‘our institutions [army, FC],’ adding that the FC’s respect would increase if nefarious elements present in the force were exposed.

About the situation in Dera Bugti, Justice Iftikhar said nobody could go to Dera Bugti due to poor law and order there. He ordered the home secretary to clear landmines laid there and ensure free movement of the people. He also asked the secretary to take a team of lawyers and media persons to Dera Bugti, adding that the situation in Dera Bugti had worsened after the martyrdom of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006.

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