By
Media Monitor Desk
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court ordered the Foreign Affairs
Ministry on Tuesday to submit detail report of missing persons,
including those detained in Afghanistan and other countries,
Aafia Siddiqui and persons went missing during operation of Lal
Masjid within 2 weeks.
A three-member bench comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice
Sair Ali and Justice Tariq Pervez is hearing the petitions
regarding the missing persons also ordered to submit the details
of the proposed commission for the recovery of missing persons.
The bench during hearing said that the next hearing on March
18 would be final during which presence of secretaries of
interior, foreign affairs and defense are must and detailed
verdict would be given on it.
Justice Javed Iqbal said that every institution of the
country is accountable before the court and there should not be
any doubt for everyone that the case of Lal Masjid is not over
as most of the people are still missing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented report of
Pakistanis languishing in jails of 9 countries, which says more
than 6000 Pakistanis are languishing in jails of various
countries.
The bench was informed that 204 Pakistanis are detained in
Afghanistan with 15 among them are at Bagram Airbase.
The bench expressed dissatisfaction over the report and said
that the details of 120 Pakistanis detained in Thailand are not
included in the report.
Deputy Attorney General told the bench that Prime Minister is
going to form commission regarding missing persons and the issue
is in the pipeline and bench said it would interfere in the
issue but the court should be informed about its details.
Justice Javed Iqbal observed that there should not be any
doubt for anyone that every institution is accountable before
the court and the court is not wasting the time but some persons
are being recovered at each hearing of the case, adding, now the
case should be decided as much time has been given to the
government.
Justice Sair Ali said that police say they can not go beyond
this limit but lets see that to which extent the court and
police can go as the case is alarming the foundations of state,
government and judiciary and attention should be given on the
sentiments of missing persons’ relatives.
Advocate Hashmat Habib, counsel for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui said
that the government is hiding facts about the case of Aafia
Siddiqui.
Justice Javed Iqbal said that the government has not devised
report about the missing persons of Lal Masjid.
Deputy Attorney General Shah Khawar told the bench that the
government wanted to set up commission regarding recovery of
missing persons.
The court ordered the deputy attorney general to provide the
court about the limits and strategy of the commission.
Amna Masood Janjua, chairperson of Defense of Human Rights
told the bench that she has recorded her statement with joint
police investigation team regarding Masood Janjua, adding, he
has not been released on US pressure.
The court ordered the government to submit detail report of
missing persons within 2 weeks and adjourned the hearing for
March 18.