Enforced disappearance: Legislation on cards, AGP informs SC
The missing persons were whisked away during midnight raids on May 24 from their homes located in different areas of Badin. PHOTO: FILE
The government desires to constitute a special tribunal for resolving the issue of missing persons and work on legislation is underway to settle the issue once and for all times.
This was stated by the Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman before a seven-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court in proceedings regarding enforced disappearance and missing persons on Wednesday.
The bench is headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan.
The AGP informed the court that Justice (retd) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar is appointed as chairmen of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance (CIED) and a committee of the federal cabinet has been constituted to work for legislation in this regard.
On the inquiry of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar about a time frame for the legislation, the AGP responded that the Cabinet Committee was working on it.
Justice Jamal Mandokhail remarked that the law already exists and it was clearly illegal to make a citizen disappear. Sue an accused in a court of law if he is a suspect, let him free otherwise. The law is clear.
The AGP said that the government is committed to resolve this issue once and for all times.
Justice Mandokhail remarked that we can hope that the issue will be resolved and can't direct the parliament to legislate on this matter.
The proceedings were then adjourned till the date to be fixed latter.
ERRA report
The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court has sought reports on the rehabilitation of Oct 8, 2005 earthquake victims from the federal and provincial governments as well as the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA).
The apex court also ordered an audit report on earthquake relief funds from the Auditor General of Pakistan.
On Oct 8, 2005, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck the northern districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the adjoining areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, claiming about 80,000 lives.
A six-member constitutional bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the case pertaining to earthquake victims.
Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi remarked that by October 2025, it will have been 20 years since the earthquake. Are the rehabilitation plans meant to last 50 years? he asked.
It seems even after 50 years the projects for resettling displaced persons may remain incomplete, Justice Rizvi noted.
The additional attorney general said all the funds had been utilised.
The top court sought reports from the federal and provincial governments as well as the ERRA and adjourned the hearing of the case.
Voting right for expats
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday adjourned hearing for two-weeks on a case regarding right of vote for the overseas Pakistanis.