Supreme Court Summons Report on Missing Pakistanis

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.