Lingering issue of missing persons ‘embarrasses’ court
ISLAMABAD: During the hearing of around a dozen petitions related to missing person cases, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said the court felt embarrassed that the issue had been lingering for several years.
The observation came while the court was seized concerning the disappearance of journalist Mudassir Naru, who went missing while on a trip to the northern areas. His wife had filed a case before the Islamabad High Court around five years ago but also passed away in the intervening period.
Naru’s young son is usually the one who comes to court to attend proceedings of the case.
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During Thursday’s proceedings, the division bench comprising CJ Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb noted that the cases of enforced disappearances were stigmatizing the image of Pakistan and bringing the country into disrepute. He sought the assistance of the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) to resolve the long-standing issue.
When Naru’s case came up, the CJ noted how the court felt embarrassed that the matter had been lingering for five years.
On Thursday, lawyer Faisal Siddiqui also appeared as amicus curiae. While submitting a report, he informed the bench that he had framed six questions on the issue and the relief sought from the court.
He said some of the petitioners were seeking relief, which is beyond the jurisdiction of IHC.
When one of the petitioners informed the court that his two sons had been missing for a very long time, Justice Aurangzeb said he could feel his pain and could not forget the missing persons. He termed it an extraordinary case that brings shame to the country, adding that the state appeared helpless in the matter.
The bench suggested that the AGP may meet with the caretaker prime minister on the issue.
Justice Aurangzeb pointed out that a former prime minister had addressed this court on enforced disappearances, but he did not take any action to stop the practice.
Additional Attorney General Barrister Munawar Iqbal Duggal said the government is serious about the issue and has constituted a committee in this regard.
Justice Farooq remarked that if the government is serious, it must show some result.
The court then issued a notice to the AGP and adjourned the hearing.
Source: Dawn
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