Enforced disappearances: Government slammed for not naming panel chief

Defence committee’s report on missing persons submitted.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court reprimanded the government on Monday for delaying the appointment of the head of the commission on enforced disappearances. In the absence of a chief, the commission has not been able to pursue cases for the past few months.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) KK Agha asked a division bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk for an additional two weeks to appoint the new chief. The bench wanted to know why the government was delaying the commission head’s appointment. “The government will have to explain the hindrance in the new appointment,” said Justice Nasirul Mulk.

The AAG reiterated that the government has started the consultation process and it requires time to finalise its selection. “The government is considering a few retired judges of the superior judiciary for the commission. Since this is a serious matter, additional time is required,” Agha contended.

Agha presented the defence committee’s report on chronic cases of disappearances. Masud Janjua and Faisal Faraz were sympathisers of al Qaeda and were killed years ago in Afghanistan during a raid, according to the report. Janjua’s wife, Amina Janjua, chairperson for the Defence of Human Rights, who was present in the courtroom, rejected the report and maintained that both of them were in ISI custody.

When the bench inquired about the matter from the AAG, he said intelligence agencies had submitted written statements to the court and had denied detaining Masud Janjua. “The govt should prove that her husband was killed. Why is information being withheld?” Justice Tariq Pervez asked Agha.  The court accepted the federation’s request and adjourned hearing till September 26.





Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2011.