A contempt of court petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) for ‘alleged interference’ in the Adiala ‘missing’ prisoners case.
The petitioner, advocated Tariq Asad, prayed the court to initiate contempt proceedings against Maj Gen Athar Abbas for his alleged interference in a sub judice matter involving the illegal custody of 11 ‘missing’ prisoners of Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Asad is also the lawyer for the prisoners, four of whom died while in the custody of spy agencies.
In his petition, he stated that despite the matter being sub judice with the apex court, Maj Gen Abbas had issued a press release to the media, in which he distorted facts, giving an impression that the accused were dealt with appropriately.
According to Asad, the press release stated that the prisoners were criminals involved in heinous crimes and were responsible for a large number of innocent deaths in Hamza Camp and Kamra base attacks.
The petitioner said that Maj Gen Abbas also gave contemptuous remarks on the trial courts, which, he added, is tantamount to interfering with the process of law and the due course of judicial proceedings.
He claimed that contents of the press release were false and the respondents – the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) – were continuously portraying a false picture through the media to undermine the authority of trial courts and to prejudice the apex court in the administration of justice.
Asad said he had decided to file the petition after Ms Huzaifa, his client and the petitioner in the missing prisoners case, died from a heart attack on February15.
On February 13, the remaining seven missing prisoners were produced before the court. The court had directed Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Raja Muhammad Irshad, counsel for the ISI and MI, to submit records and statements explaining the prisoners’ detention prior to January 26, 2012.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary was also directed to collect the relevant record explaining the circumstances under which the detainees were allowed to be admitted in the Internment Centre in Parachinar.
The court has sought relevant record and fixed the case for March 1.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (27)
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Spokesperson? WHY NOT DG ISI ?
@Umer: poor civilians.
@Pakistan politics: Remember in 2009, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed was arrested and bought before the Courts for the Mumbai carnage. He was acquitted because of lack of evidence. That time, did you remember a coin has always two sides? Don't look at the issue one eyed.
Grill them, let them realize that no one is "above the law". Lets see if our "azad" judiciary can prove that its really independent.
Agreed with those with the plea nothign will happen. Seems just an exercise on paper to divert attention.
No one is above the Law including military. If any offence has been committed by the spokes person or any other personnel in Military; they should be brought to the Cour of Law and dealt with accordingly.
Army should hand over or let free all the terrorists and call back the troops from all operations and let these commentators save their homes at their own. No need to protect them
@Umer: Dear has ever court declared a terrorist, a terrorist? Please name that terrorist. But I can show you hundred of terrorists, praying for such adlia.
Secondly, are these 17 people (SC Judges) super human? above bias? above emotions? above law? above 18 crore Pakistanis?
Ok, its their duty, but we (especially our media and awam) used to abuse Zardari, a policeman, a jagirdar, a foji, a politician, a bureaucrat, teacher or etc.; Has any court of law decalred strictly them CORRUPT.
But I can tell u it is none other then CJP said that adlia is full of corrupt people. I agree with this at least.
Big moment for democratic forces and those who admire the rule of law. Bravo Mr Tariq. Those guys may be terrorist or linked to terrorists, yet they deserve due course of law.
*Terrorists should be dealt the way they are dealt with in the rest of the world. Pakistani civilian courts can't prosecute terrorists for a variety reasons. That's exactly the reason why thousands of terrorists have been set free by our courts. Special military courts should be set up to try hard-core terrorists so that any person who is involved in terrorism should be punished. Proceedings in such courts should be open for the media and the civil society. *
I am not wonder why Indian's are pretending themselves Pakistani while commenting on post related Pak Army.
Why media is not telling the people that these people were involved in brutal killings and hideous crimes, Remember a coin has always two side, dont look at th issue one eyed
Funny isn't it! People say that the army deals with the prisoners appropriately and these terrorists deserve it. But our standards become upside down when the same US soldiers kill Afghan prisoners and label them as terrorists who they say were dealt with ' appropriately'.
@Umar:
Has a court declared them terrorists? If not then no one else has the authority to declare them criminals.
@Umer: Absolutely right
Brave Man Tariq Asad .
General sahib, what is the secret of young looks, talk about defying age :)
It is right that evrery one despite of his position should be treated equally by law, but to me the press conference by DG ISPR does not seem to be contemtp of court.
Wow. Saner voices are mushrooming in pakistan. Congrats to Advocate for filing such a petition against all powerful people. Now let’s see if the court is really balanced in approach.
I don't wanna comment who knows if someone would take me to court for commenting on the case during judicial proceedings
Another contempt of court case!!
As our own dear Ali Ahmad Kurd had said, "an increase in number of contempt cases indicates weakening of the judiciary".
The advocate of the terrorists should also be made part of the trial for supporting the terrorists, providing relief to the enemies of the people of Pakistan and trying to bring bad name to the state institutions.
The Major General has defacto immunity against contmpt charges.
Well done Tariq Asad. The Nation stands with you
Nothing will happen to the real rulers, rest assured. The courts are only for civilians.