Missing persons cases divide PHC, provincial govt

A high-profile meeting at the K-P Governor House will discuss the issue.

PESHAWAR: The Chief Justice (CJ) of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) adjourned seven cases related to ‘missing persons’ to March 8, after the ministry of defence told the court that a meeting will happen at Governor House to discuss the issue.

At the same time, however, the ministry denied that it had detained the seven missing persons, who belong to different parts of the province.

The CJ of PHC, however, seems to take another view.

Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, while hearing the cases on Tuesday, told representatives of the ministry of defence and the deputy attorney general to register cases against the missing persons and produce them before the court.

Deputy Attorney General Iqbal Mohmand told The Express Tribune that PHC sought registration of cases against the missing persons for the crimes they have allegedly committed, so that they could appear before the court. CJ said the missing persons should be shifted to internment centres, putting their family members’ fears to rest.

“You people had to face embarrassment before the apex court also. For how long this thing will continue?” Justice Khan said.

Director Legal Ministry of Defence Colonel Shahbaz informed the court that a meeting has been called at Governor House where the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani, Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastageer and representatives of the law enforcement and intelligence agencies will discuss the missing persons’ issue.

Col Shahbaz also denied that any government officials had picked up the missing persons.

The deputy attorney general also presented a letter before the court, issued from the K-P Governor House, which contained information about the meeting to be held regarding the missing persons, which will take place on Wednesday (today).

“The meeting has been called to resolve the issue and it will be discussed to resolve the missing persons issue once for all,” Iqbal Mohmand said.

Seven people have registered cases alleging that their family members were picked up by police and security agencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2012.