Delay in bringing back Pakistan prisoner irks IHC

Court seeks written reply from foreign, interior secretaries, envoy to Britain

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought written reply from the respondents in a case pertaining to the shifting of a Pakistani citizen, Tariq Aziz, imprisoned in Britain, to a prison in Pakistan.

During a hearing, IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani warned that foreign secretary, interior secretary and Pakistan’s ambassador to the UK to be sent to prison in case the court’s orders were not implemented.

Representatives of foreign ministry, interior ministry and the establishment division appeared before the court. The court said that the foreign secretary, the interior secretory and the ambassador of Pakistan to Britain would have to appear before the court.

The judge also said that the three officers appear before the court along with the incarcerated Pakistani, adding that if the Pakistani prisoner was not present in court as per the court orders, he would initiate criminal proceeding against them.

Justice Kiani said that the officials must give in writing, when they would present the Pakistani prisoner in the court. He said: “Tell the Pakistani ambassador that if he could not bring the Pakistani, he will not go back.” He added: “If the court order was not complied with, I will send the foreign secretary, the interior secretary and the ambassador to jail.”

Justice Kiani also cited the example of the recent departure of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who went to London for medical treatment this week. If Nawaz Sharif wanted to go, he left in two days but here it took six years to decide how to bring back the Pakistani citizen from Britain.

This is the reason that after seeing all this people talk. “There will be no air ambulance for this prisoner. It [air ambulance] is for the rich people. If one country cannot get it done from another country, then close the embassies,” the judge said.

The court also said that “one ministry is playing ping pong with another”. The prime minister was asked to take action against the foreign and interior secretaries and the ambassador. “Nobody knows how the system is being run. May Allah have mercy.”

The representative of the cabinet division informed the court that cabinet secretary had written to the prime minister to take action against these three officials. At this, the court asked what stopped the prime minister from issuing the order.

All the government servants from Grade 1 to 21 are limited to writing letters. “We do not need the prime minister’s order. We have said it is your job to do these things, and if you don’t do, close the high commission, it consumes billions from the public exchequer’” he added.

“That’s why people curse the system and nobody responds. Those in the high commission take their salaries in dollars and pounds and the people are dying. If they cannot work in these institutions, they should resign and go home, no matter if one is a judge.”

The court directed the representative of interior ministry to respond in writing, otherwise a written order will be issued. The court adjourned the hearing.