Last warning to govt over missing persons
ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Thursday gave an observation while hearing missing persons’ case that the court has sufficient evidence, which shows that the missing people are in the custody of intelligence agencies.
Four-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Sardar Raza Khan, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Nasirul Mulk, ordered Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah to submit a complete report about all missing persons after contacting the intelligence agencies within ten days to the apex court.
Deputy Attorney General Nahida Mehboob Elahi, representing the government in the case, appeared before the bench and pleaded that the government should be given some more time to recover the missing persons, on which Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed his anger and remarked that the government has already been given maximum time to recover the missing persons.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, therefore, summoned Secretary Interior, Secretary Defense and all the concerned persons in the court and adjourned the hearing for a break.
After the break, Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah appeared before the bench and informed that The Secretary Defense had flown to Karachi to attend an official meeting. However, he (Kamal Shah) held a meeting with Secretary Defense and both of them are seriously working in the light of apex court’s order in this regard.
However, Interior secretary Kamal Shah requested the bench to give him fourteen days time period to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, after listening to his request, remarked that the court has sufficient evidence that these people are in the custody of the intelligence agencies.
“We don’t want to summon uniformed officers of the intelligence but don’t force us to summon them, prior to such situation you must bring some result before the court” Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry warned the interior secretary while expressing his anger.
Kamal Shah interior secretary brought into the knowledge of the bench that 186 missing people have been recovered till now and all of them have reached their houses.
Advocate Iqbal Haider, representing human rights commission in the case, at this stage told the apex court that the case of missing of Masaud Janjua is quite old, however, no further development has been made on this part till now.
While replying, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah informed the court that interior ministry is in consultation with the office of the Attorney General and with the help of AGP office they are preparing final list of all the missing persons, however they are required some more time to accomplish this task.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that the court would be forced to
hear individual case of missing persons if the Interior Ministry would not comply with the court orders.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also directed Ameen Hashim, an officer of the Establishment Division, to make some quick efforts to find out Atiqur Rehman (missing person from Abbotabad) and present his recovery report in the court on next date of hearing.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also directed the concerned authorities that Imran Munir should remain at PIMS hospital till next hearing and should be presented before the court on next hearing of the case.
While giving the deadline of fourteen days to the government for the recovery of all the missing persons, with an observation that no further time will be given in this case to the government, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry adjourned the hearing till November 13.
Source: The Nation
Date:11/2/2007
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