SC orders to present 35 missing persons on December 2

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed defence minister to produce 35 missing persons before it on December 02 who were allegedly detained by federal law enforcement agencies.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other members including Justice Jawad S Khuwaja Justice Khiliji Arif Hussain and Justice Amir Hani Muslim issued direction while hearing different cases related to missing persons at the apex court’s Karachi registry.

Defence secretary told the court that information regarding Yaseen Shah, a missing person of Mardan was unknown to them. The bench took exception to his statement and observed that there was evidence to establish that Yassen was picked up by agencies.

The bench directed him to give written undertaking that they don t have information regarding Yassen Shah. Defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif appeared before the court and assured that it would soon resolve the missing persons issue.

He submitted that important development had been made in the case relating to missing persons while legislation in this regard was also in the process.

Expressing extreme displeasure against federal authorities and FC over non-recovery of missing persons, the bench observed that FC force was running parallel to the provincial government and was doing whatever they want.

The Chief Justice said that there were sufficient evidence to establish the custody of some persons with FC which had no authority to detain them unlawfully without their permission.

Chief Justice observed that even democratic government had disappointed the people and did not meet the expectations of masses in this regard.

He said that Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal had appeared in the court and pleaded it to resolve the issue of missing persons.

The Chief Justice remarked the matter of missing persons was big one. Long march of the relatives and families of missing persons from Quetta to Karachi on foot was reported by international media, which he said, earned a bad name to country.

The Chief Justice observed that if FC had helped the provincial government in resolving missing persons issue the chief minister Balochistan would not have raised his hands and stated he was helpless with the issue.

The Chief Justice remarked that if the problem of missing person left unattended it would yield the bad results.