Detention at Bagram: ‘Government taking matter lightly’
LHC judge irked by ‘irresponsible’ statements.
LAHORE:
A Lahore High Court judge on Friday reprimanded a law officer and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for taking the detention of seven Pakistanis at the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan “so lightly”.
The law officer told the court that a Foreign Office representative had visited Bagram and reported that the Pakistanis were doing well. Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan was not happy with the law officer and told him that the statement was an “irresponsible” one.
“If they have committed any offence, bring them back to Pakistan. They will be tried,” the judge said, adding that the rulers treated the people “like animals”. “No one is paying any attention to the plight of the prisoners,” the judge remarked. He said that the federal government had done nothing to redress their grievances. The courts will ensure that they get back their freedom, added the judge.
Justice Project Pakistan, a non-profit law firm, has filed the petition, saying that seven Pakistanis have been detained at Bagram since 2003.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2012.
A Lahore High Court judge on Friday reprimanded a law officer and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for taking the detention of seven Pakistanis at the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan “so lightly”.
The law officer told the court that a Foreign Office representative had visited Bagram and reported that the Pakistanis were doing well. Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan was not happy with the law officer and told him that the statement was an “irresponsible” one.
“If they have committed any offence, bring them back to Pakistan. They will be tried,” the judge said, adding that the rulers treated the people “like animals”. “No one is paying any attention to the plight of the prisoners,” the judge remarked. He said that the federal government had done nothing to redress their grievances. The courts will ensure that they get back their freedom, added the judge.
Justice Project Pakistan, a non-profit law firm, has filed the petition, saying that seven Pakistanis have been detained at Bagram since 2003.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2012.