Khawaja Asif presents details of missing persons in SC

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday presented details of 35 missing persons in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) during today’s proceedings, Geo News reported Friday.

A three-judge bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Amir Hani was hearing the missing persons’ case here today.

Before the hearing, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif consulted Attorney General Munir A Malik.

During the proceedings, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif presented details of the 35 missing persons and told the court that none of the missing persons was in the custody of army.

While presenting the details, the minister apprised the bench that two persons are in different internment centers, two have died, eight are reportedly in Kunar area of Afghanistan. He continued saying that there is no information available regarding the whereabouts of seven missing persons including Yasin Shah.

Khawaja Asif told that seven persons were released and they later crossed the Afghan border while three others are in South Waziristan.

On this, the CJ inquired about the evidence for those who crossed the Afghan border and asked the defence minister to present the evidence of their migration. He further instructed the minister to present all of them in the court.

On the occasion, Attorney General Minir A Malik told the apex court that he can produce seven missing persons in half an hour in the Registrar's chamber.

He pleaded the court to instruct the interior ministry to assist the defence ministry in bringing back the missing persons. The CJ rejected the plea and remarked that defence ministry has a vast network and asked him to provide details of their birthplace and whereabouts.

The SC, then, ordered the minister to produce fifteen missing persons in the chamber of Justice Amir Hani Muslim for in-camera hearing where their statements will be recorded.

The court further ordered to present the families of the deceased missing persons and their consent will be sought for the autopsy.

The AG said that it is feared that they might be attacked if presented in the court.

After the hearing, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif spoke to media outside the SC building and said that he will produce few missing persons tomorrow in the court while rest of them will be presented in couple of days. He said he has details of twenty missing persons.

Khawaja Asif said that action will be taken against all those who tried to mislead them and the court. A new history is being written in the country as the government will implement every single order of the court.