IHC tasks spymasters with missing persons recovery

Court expresses displeasure at absence of PM

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) formed a committee comprising heads of three top spy agencies of the country on the issue of missing Baloch students, and once again summoned the caretaker prime minister on February 28.

The committee comprised directors general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Military Intelligence (MI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The court said that regardless of political government, the committee would provide answers regarding the missing persons.

IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani took up the matter for hearing.

Expressing concern over the non-recovery of the missing Baloch students and the absence of the prime minister, the court once again summoned the caretaker premier for February 28.

Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan cited the caretaker prime minister's unavailability due to engagements in Karachi. Justice Kayani emphasised the importance of accountability, stating that appearing in court was not a matter of insult for the prime minister; rather, he was answerable.

The court said that a committee was being formed of the same agencies, which had been facing allegations relating to the missing persons issue. It added that regardless of the government, or the new government, this committee would provide the answers.

Additionally, the court announced stringent measures, stating that in any future cases of disappearance from within Islamabad's jurisdiction, a case would be filed against the Inspector General (IG) of police, interior secretary, and the in-charge of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

Attorney General Awan informed the court that eight students were still missing. The judge said that the prime minister was called because he was answerable to the court. He added that here nobody was above the law.

The court expressed dismay over the failure in the recovery of all missing individuals even after the lapse of two years. Whether institutions were responsible for their disappearance; or they ran away on their own, or they were kidnapped, in either case it was the failure of the state institutions, he added.

The attorney general requested the court for some time so that the new government could make a policy. The court said that three governments in the past had not been able to do anything to recover the missing Baloch students.

Iman Mazari Advocate said that during the last few months more students were forcibly disappeared, stressing that the change of government would not help. Justice Kayani said that the committee had been formed which would give answers, regardless of which government was in office.

The judge said that some institutions had been granted exemptions, which should not be given to them. He warned that the deputy commissioner of Islamabad misused Maintenance of Public Order (MPO)and now, after the court decision, he was facing the contempt case.

Lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat told the court that his house was raided at 2am by those who were wearing police uniforms and masks.

Justice Kayani said that Marwat was a member of the National Assembly (MNA) as well as a lawyer. If this could happen to an assembly member here in Islamabad, imagine, what could be happening to the common people in Balochistan. If the state institutions did this, who would protect the citizens from thieves and robbers, he asked.

In a stark warning to the official, the judge said that they should be afraid of the time when someone stood up against the law enforcement personnel and shoot them in resistance.

The court then summoned the caretaker prime minister and adjourned the hearing till February 28.