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SC orders government to present missing persons in 7 daysISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has ordered concerned authorities to present the missing persons in seven days along with initiating action against those responsible.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Ameer Hani Muslim resumed hearing into the missing persons’ case on Tuesday.
In its order, the court stated that the prime minister should ensure that no forced disappearances should occur in the future. The order further stated that the prime minister, chief ministers and governors should ensure the recovery of the missing persons. Military Intelligence (MI), Intelligence Branch (IB), Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and police have no powers of forced custody, the order stated.
The CJ said the court’s order was not implemented in the missing persons’ case and this is not acceptable under any circumstances. He said that it is proved now that army took away 35 persons from the Malakand detention centre but only seven out of 35 have been presented so far. The credentials about the remaining ones are only known to army, even the defence secretary has no direct information about them. He continued receiving the instructions from the relevant quarters that included armed forces.
The order further stated that the prime minister was well aware about the crucial case pertaining to human rights and his interest gives hope of the solution. Had the federal and provincial governments investigated, the army officers responsible for the disappearances could have been brought to the court.
Earlier during the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry summoned Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on immediate basis.
Attorney General Munir A Malik and acting Defence Secretary Arif Nazir appeared in the court. The CJ questioned them about the missing persons on which acting defence secretary responded that the missing persons could not be presented in the court due to some serious security issues.
On this, the CJ remarked that the court order has to be implemented come what may. He further said that if they want to detain someone, then they should introduce an ordinance.
On this occasion, the attorney general told that a resolution for missing persons will be presented in the current Parliament session.
Courtesy www.geo.tv